We’ve had something come up with our little one, Lana, that has taken me away from FickleZeal for a bit… well I hope it’s just for a bit.  Please if you pray, pray for Lana, if you think, keep your thoughts on her, if you meditate, please meditate on Lana’s good health.  Please all of you keep her in your thoughts and/or prayers.  At this time, I don’t  wish to share details as my emotions are ALL whacked out.  I hope by this time tomorrow I will be able to say false alarm, but if not then our faith will remain in tacked while we get our battle gear on and face what we are intended to face.

If you are client of ours and are waiting on anything from us, I beg your forgiveness and will get to it all once I get my feet on the ground again, hopefully Wednesday!!!  If you need something urgently feel free to send an email to me at jenna at ficklezeal.com titled urgent.

A post without a photo would be a shame, so here’s a share of our precious baby girl Lana.

seriously I thought my kids were going to wig out when I told them what was for lunch.  Not that it was the first time that I’ve made it, but it’s been  A LONG time.

Grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches with their initials carved in them.

After having ALL day sickness for several months, it’s so refreshing to be able to breath without wanting to throw-up.  Especially when it comes to cooking.  I usually enjoy making yummy dishes for my family to enjoy and to be nourished by, so these past three in a half months have been torture for me, and I’m sure Andre.  The kids on the other hand have enjoyed the extra pick what you want nights, our tradition for Friday “family movie nights”.

After working a full day behind the computer I couldn’t wait to get in the kitchen and create something that I had been  thinking about all day.  Something that took a little part of each of our favorite family meals.  This meal represents our heritage combined.  Andre’s Peruvian and Caucasian roots and my Puerto Rican and Cuban roots.

Our new Heritage Meal “Frijoles y Mas”

Now, the nausea that hits occasionally ain’t got nothin’ on me.  Thank God for FEELING GREAT!

It was another HOT Texas day, Nate and I were enjoying a little time together.  We went to check the mail when I noticed the neighbors sprinkler start.  I encouraged Nate to ride his bike and ran inside to call for Lana and to grab my camera of course.  They didn’t know what I was up to, but once they were ready I told them to run/ride through the sprinker.  Nate was delightfully perplexed, but it didn’t take him long to see the potential.  We had a great time recycling my neighbors water that would have otherwise been wasted on the sidewalk.

We decided to begin our summer with a fun family stay-cation.  We stayed near our home and together for 9 days.  Enjoying the adventure and laziness that the summer brings.  We had intended to go-go-go, but after an awesome day at the lake a wonderful lake water induced stomach bug defined the rest of our stay-cation to throwing up tents in our living room instead of on the camp grounds.  I think we all appreciated 74º instead of the dreadful 105º that it was outside.  We ended up thanking the stomach bug that defined our cozy time together.

We’ve been keeping a little secret, because I was feeling really under the weather and a LOT hormonal, but now that I’m feeling GREAT, I’m ready to reveal a recent photo of me that Andre captured which made me realize that I can’t keep it to myself anymore.

Today is a national awareness day to promote awareness and initiate change of the hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)”, the r-word.

Something that has been pressing in my heart since Lana was born.  After speaking with countless doctors and therapists, I quickly learned that a word that is used throughout society to describe someone that is acting dumb or goofy was now tied to my beautiful daughter.  I must say, it hurt.  At first, it hurt that the doctors would dare describe my daughters condition as such, but after much thought and research I wanted to reclaim the word for it’s intended definition.  I wanted all of my friends and family to stop the misuse of the r-word.  I posted blog posts, sent emails, had many conversations informing people of how hurtful the word was when used in inappropriate careless ways.  I also designed and created t-shirts to hand out and sell.  I’ve been spreading the word for over three years now, but today I’m happy to see the cause is nationalized.

Soeren Palumbo has made a huge impact in creating awareness since his brilliant speech that he delivered to a gymnasium full of his high school peers and faculty and received a standing ovation.

The use of the r-word is offensive and hurtful, even when it is inadvertently used.  It is hurtful to the millions with mental retardation as well as their loved ones.

I find it interesting that insulting somebody by using such words as “Alzheimer… Cancer… AIDS… etc” carelessly would not be taken as a joke nor lightly yet, using another disease such as retardation as an insult is common among society.

It is NEVER appropriate to use the words “retard” or “retarded” in a careless or an insulting way.

I encourage you all to be more conscious of the words that you use and hope that you will take a pledge to stop saying the R-word on www.r-word.org.

It’s impossible for me to blog about one of my kids without also blogging about the other.  So, today, I would like to post a few things about my maturing boy.
It has been said, that from the age of 6, your personality will pretty much be the same for the rest of your life.  Nate is nearing 6 and his individuality, vitality, creativity, intelligence, courteousness, kindness and cuteness all attribute to his uniqueness.  He is blossoming into a very respectable, cool, caring, funky, fun young boy.

The other day, Nate ran to my office from upstairs with a serious look on his face, and then cracked a smile while saying, “I haven’t wore this shirt and pants in a really long time.  I like them.”  His blue v-necked sweater vest and dark blue pinstriped slacks complemented each other very well.  He stood there staring at me with a slight lean and one hand his pocket.  I couldn’t help but tell him that he looked handsome and that he was stylin’.  I whistled at him and told him that his look was picture perfect.  He started to laugh and I busted out my camera.  Then he took off to complete the “look”, his hair. Check out his slicked down hair with a “super-man” curl, as he says.  Here are the results of my cool little man and our unexpected mini-photoshoot:

I can’t wait to see what other personality traits he will develop and own.  He’s growing up so fast…:’(

Last week, Nate started to play Guitar Hero, World Tour.  On his first day playing, he scored a 94% on the Guitar…Lana was assisting on the “off-line” Drum set.  He is also starting to try his vocal skillz out with his fist full of steal (well…more of a plastic MIC)!  My lil Rocker(s)!

I woke up this morning with an urge to embrace the day for a girls day out…just me and Lana.  I wanted to share with her some of my favorite childhood pastimes.  At first, I didn’t know how or what exactly we’d be doing but I knew, just as any other photographer mom would want to, I wanted to document our time together.  After a morning of pampering, we headed out to a wooded area near our home.  Yes, at times, I am a Tomboy.  Plus, I wanted my little princess to be surrounded by nature.  We spent nearly an hour walking through trails and photographing moments along the way.  We had a great time, but I wanted something more for her.  I could have taken Lana for a few of her favorite foods, donuts and ice cream, but that still would not be enough.  So, we set off for the unknown.  I drove down a winding road that stretched throughout several neighborhoods when suddenly we met our days destiny!  I slowed down admiring two beautiful horses that trotted along an open pasture that was smack-dab in the middle of these subdivisions.  I wanted to go to the house sooo bad, but I had no reason other than my inner child screaming to GO.  Just as I was about to pass the entrance, I saw my excuse.  A garage sale!  YES!  We drove up the long dirt road while admiring the horses from a distance, as well as, the stables in the back.  I instantly admitted that I wasn’t there for the garage sale but to inquire about riding lessons.  That’s when I meet a beautiful woman that graciously offered Lana a ride.  She had no idea how much she had touched me with her generosity and kindness, or that this would be the experience to make day so meaningful.  Instinctively, I wanted to jump on “Cotton” (the horse of choice) with Lana, but I knew that would have been pushing it;)  In my childhood tending to and caring for my horses was such an amazing experience that I gained much strength from.  I’m hopeful that Lana will be able to enjoy this as well.

I’m so glad that Lana had such an incredible experience on this day that is so special to me and my family.  This is our 3rd World Down syndrome (Ds) Awareness Day!  We have been so blessed to be apart of this amazing adventure with Lana.  We will celebrate her 4th birthday next month and from the day we were told of her diagnosis it has been nothing but a learning and growing opportunity.  By catering to her needs we have made several lifestyle changes that has enriched our lives and enabled us live a much more satisfying and conscious lifestyle.  She has indirectly brought us to our own inner peace and acceptance.  We have embraced her uniqueness and similarities, and continue to fall deeper in love with the person she is and is becoming.  Lana is a treasure that is unexplainable and undeniable.

Fifty years ago, Professor Jerome Lejeune discovered the copied chromosome determined to cause Down Syndrome. This day commemorated on March 21, 2009, on World Down Syndrome Day. Though the syndrome itself is named after 19th century British doctor John Langdon Down, Lejeune’s discovery is considered the most essential piece in the medical understanding of Down Syndrome.

Down Syndrome organizations around the world this year will pay tribute to the pioneering work of Professor Lejeune and celebrate the tremendous advances in the care and social welfare of people with Down Syndrome over the past fifty years.

“Professor Lejeune provided inspiration to parents and professionals who met him, and drew strength and hope from his optimism and his simple and profound dedication to humanity. The Lejeune Institute in Paris continues to sponsor research in this area” said Mrs. Penny Robertson, President of Down Syndrome International. “But while there is much to be proud of in western countries in the services provided for people and families with Down syndrome, there is still an enormous amount of work to be done in many countries” including our own.  More to follow on March 31st.