Happy New Year !!!

Today, was a great day at home. Baking a little, cleaning a lot, enjoying time with family.

Ahhh family! Love my family, although today I got in an argument with my baby brother who I adore...I don't think he knows how much I love him... but, I just have a big mouth and say what I feel. Is that so bad?

Throughout the day, I have been thinking about this year that is coming to an end. As every year in my life, there has been good and bad and I am grateful for both. Yes, grateful for the bad because it has "hopefully", taught me lessons that will help me be a better person, better wife, mother, daughter and sister, hopefully I learned my lesson tonight....keep my mouth shut and don't give my opinion unless I am asked. Oh!!! that is just sooo hard for me!.... Maybe next year!! LOL

We celebrated as a family with the kiddos running around in the restaurant, fighting over balloons...my oldest brother was with us and that was special for us for many reasons.

All the kiddos and the balloons 

My hope and prayer for you is that next year will be one full of love, joy and health for everyone! and for Greg and I,  hopefully a full night of sleep soon, functioning on 3-5 hours of sleep a day is getting to me.

New Year resolutions for moi...be better at everything...as a wife, mom, daughter, sister aaand lose the baby muffin top, wish me luck because I WILL need it.

Love, love and more love to all!!!
ps. thanks for stopping by

Happy New Year !!!!

Not much overwhelms me....but

It took about 12 shots to get this decent one!

Three sick kids though is more than I can bare! I am overwhelmed! Fevers, coughing, runny noses, oh my!!!!
I hate to admit it  but, the older I get the smarter I think my mom is, she  told me "you will never sleep the same after you have kids" she is right, always right! Who would have known!! :) she always has advice that I sometimes choose not to follow only to find myself doing exactly what she said ..... Eventually!

My thanksgiving was....full of snot,  fevers and sleepless nights! Although this was not the most "fun" holiday, I wouldn't have it ANY OTHER way! Although overwhelmed and extremely tired, I am soo thankful for what God has so kindly given to me; His grace, my family, health and more love than I ever dreamt ! 

On a positive note, the Cowboys did win it for us this year!!!

Cowboy Fan #3

Cowboy Fan #2...and dad's hope for a football player

Cowboy Fan #1 and...too smart to be a football player! Helping mom with apple pie

I hope your thanksgiving was great, can't wait for Christmas, it is by far my favorite holiday, I am hoping for dry noses and lots of baking....but, I will take the dry noses if I have to choose!

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good!
Psalm 107:1

One of the saddest days of my life

My cousin Abiel passed away two weeks ago on Saturday. He was 41, married to a great gal and had 3 children. He was diagnosed with colon cancer 2 years ago.  He was soft spoken, kind, gentle, loving, a great friend, and a great cousin to me!

Again, I find myself wondering why... Again, not questioning God but just wondering why...

My dad called me and told me that he was not doing well, I felt that I needed to say goodbye so I called my brother and we flew to Mexico arriving around noon on Saturday, when I came into the hospital room my knees felt weak I kissed him and I just said... "I love you, more than you can imagine" he smiled a bit and nodded.

He is right in the middle, wearing a blue jacket. I am sitting on the floor on the left side with pony tails. 

Church camp  leading worship, he is the second on the left and I am in between his sisters.

We grew up together and spent many days enjoying time with all the cousins, we went to church together every week, went to camps together, took trips together, many, many fond and sweet memories. Spending time with my cousins was one of my favorite things to do growing up.

I could not leave the hospital, I don't know why? I felt I needed to stay...He was restless and I asked his oldest sister if she had sang to him (she has a beautiful voice) she said "No, I can't" and I said "Yes, you can" So, she began to sing, two of my other cousins and my brother were there so, we all sang. The last song we sang was "Amazing Grace"... minutes later he passed away. My dad called his time of death and  said: "God gave, God took, may His name be blessed" We prayed together and thanked God for his life.

I consider it a privilege to have been there. Watching my uncle remove all the tubes and touching his face was more than I could stand, I hugged him and he said "I held him yesterday as a baby and now he is gone" "Love on your children and your husband because you just never know"

I know I will see him again one day and he will be handsome  and smiling like he always used to do.  For now, I will just love on my husband and my children because I just don't know.

My First Week Back at Work!

Bennett Newborn

After I had Bennett I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to go back to work. I quietly cried myself to sleep the night before I went back to work thinking "How can I leave my baby?" I had prayed for so many years to be able to have a baby that I just felt awful leaving him. Obviously, I survived....he survived and so did Brock and now Brecken!

Three babies later and I still dread going back to work.  That begins the day I have them! This Monday came and I did not cry but did feel my heart ache leaving her. I drove to work thinking about it and then I thought about it all day.

After being there for a few hours, I suddenly felt happy... then I felt guilty...because I was happy, what in the world!!?  After thinking about it for a few days, it came to me. Making my children at the office happy makes me happy. It is a gift!! I do not by any means mean it in an arrogant way! It is a gift from God. Being able to do what I do and have the kiddos leave the office with a smile is a gift, having children tell me they want to be a pediatric dentist like me, makes me happy!

What is amazing to me is that it took me days to realize this!  This gift is something that I love to do AND it makes me happy precisely BECAUSE I LOVE IT!

I know that I will continue to struggle to find a balance between being a "mom" and a "working mom" and I also know that I will feel guilty one way or another but, I am lucky that I am in love with both.

We all have gifts and most of the time we do not know what  those gifts are but finding them will help you be happier even in situations where you feel there is no reason to be happy about, like leaving your babies behind to go to work.

Find yours!

xo, L

Brock Newborn

Brecken two weeks old

I Miss My Husband

Being a mom is great. Greatest joy I have ever felt, greatest fear, greatest accomplishment, greatest worry...greatest everything but, once babies come into the picture your relationship with your husband changes. Having said that, I don't mean that it changes in a bad way, it is just different, you are both going in different directions, you do this while I do that, you clean the vomit while I bathe whoever is throwing up at the time. Always one going right and one going left. 

I  love Greg more now than I did when I married him, I love him, among many  other things, because he is such a great dad. He loves on them but he is also tough which I think is good for them too.

But, my oh my!! I miss my baby. I miss our morning jogs, I miss our couch time, I miss movies, long dinners, trips, watching football together, taking naps...Oh ! I can go on and on and on...

I absolutely want to make sure that I do everything I can so  HE knows that he is the only boy in the world for me.

As you know and I am kind of learning this as I go and as our family grows,  it takes work to keep the fire burning...you get so busy that you don't realize that you haven't kissed or told each other something nice.....it doesn't just happen, you have to make it happen.

I have always loved football and now that the season started it is a great time for us...we don't sit on the couch to watch football anymore but, we have televisions that are strategically placed so we can play with the boys, color, read books and catch a little football. You do what you can!!

My Biggest Challenge....Yet

Brecken will be 4 weeks old tomorrow! I can't believe how fast time has gone by...I love my baby girl, she seems so fragile but at the same time she is so tough already. Her brothers and cousins fight over her and pull her different directions and she seems to not mind. At least not now, maybe later?!

Having 3 babies 3 years and younger has been a challenge and I love challenges...but this requires a lot more of everything. More focus, more patience, more work, more energy, more sacrifice in many different ways and so much more. 

My 3 treasures sleeping in the car

My struggle or challenge is being the best mom, wife and pediatric dds for my kiddos at the office that I can be. Finding a balance to do everything well and feel good about everything when I FINALLY get to bed. My problem is that I love my family and I love what I do, so it is hard to take away time or effort in any aspect of my life.

I did start my own practice so I can have flexibility and control of my schedule so, I am starting there, prioritizing everything so I can go down my list or try to...

I have written it before and I will write it again, women are amazing little creatures, stopping at nothing to care for their family and everything else!! 

I learn from you guys every day. Thanks!!

My next post.... I MISS MY HUSBAND!!!

La Vie en Rose

I am really loving being a mom to a little girl. More than I thought I would...Pink is pretty much everywhere now and I am really getting into it. There is just something about a little girl that just draws me to her. 

Brecken is doing wonderful, she is the breastfeeding champ of the house by far, she is sleeping pretty well and is gaining back the weight she lost after she was born. 

I am SLOWLY but surely, getting back to my computer to get some work done between naps, school pick ups and everything else and by everything else I mean....keeping Brock from killing himself and putting lotion, ice packs and whatever else I can think of on Bennett. Check out these pictures. I absolutely can not loose track of these two for a second!! 

Brock's Second Bloody Accident!

Bennett's Allergic Reaction to what we think was
a mosquito bite!

Brock loving on his baby sister!
SO sweet!!!

So, as much as I hated pink before...it sure is growing on me now! Thanks again for all the emails, texts, gifts, cards and loves you have sent our way. It means the world to us! 

Much love from us!

Time stands still

I tried to prepare myself as much as I could for this moment. As always, it has proven to be useless. NOTHING can prepare you for 3 babies 3 and under. It seems like they are conspiring against Greg and I by not sleeping through the night...the 3 of them!

I admit, I am overwhelmed which is a lot for me to say because not much bothers me but...man, it is hard. I am sure it will get much easier and once our routine is established it will be much better but,  it sure is a challenge.


Although I struggle with fears of not being the best mommy and wife that I would like to be, I try to focus on doing just that...trying to be the best mommy and wife that I can be. Time for me... stands still when I spend time with each of them, I treasure each moment, each smile, burp, gas, and everything else that comes with being a mom, I especially find sleeping time absolutely delicious with each of them...at this point they all want "mamma" to go to sleep and I will enjoy and hold on to that for as long as I can.

As overwhelmed, tired, sleep deprived and everything else...as I am, I would not have it any other way. I love my husband  and my children more than words can say.

The boys are loving their sister and always want to touch her and kiss her...they get upset if she cries and tell me "Mommie, Brecken is crying!" I hope they will continue that for the rest of their lives.

Life is good...and it will be better as soon as I can get 3 hours of sleep at one time.... :)

My baby girl

We are doing great! Of course a C-section is not a walk in the park but I am just so thankful Brecken is healthy!

I think she looks just like me... Poor thing! :) judging by a few attitudes she will likely be like me which is very worrisome!!! Oh well... Not much I can do!

My heart is full of joy and I praise God for this miracle in my life!

Will keep everyone posted, thanks for the texts, emails, cards, flowers... I am overwhelmed by the love that is around us!

Much love.... Brecken and mommy

Mommy...who is God?

Bennett asked me this question yesterday morning while I was feeding him breakfast, before I could respond he moved on to his second question...Where does he live?....and before I could answer this questions he asked yet another question...Is he really big and is he everywhere?

How in the world do you answer these questions for a 3 year old? I have been thinking about what my answers should have been and I still don't know exactly what I should have said. 

My answer went something like this...God is, everywhere...and he lives in the sky. He is very big and that is how he created the sun and the moon and then Bennett interrupted "did he make the ocean?" I said yes! He made everything...even you in my belly! You know what else? He loves you very much! His reply was simple...WOW! Then, he moved on to whatever he was doing satisfied with my answer.

I am still struggling with his first question, obviously I did not answer it! Who is God?  Really, who is God for a 3 year old? I know who God is for me, My Father... my strength... my shield! I pray that soon I can help Bennett better understand and mostly experience Who God is in his life.

This is God making Bennett!

Phew!! Will there be more tricky questions like this? I can only imagine

Bennett's First Day of School

It is unbelievable to me that my baby is going to school, I feel like I just had him, like he just took his first step. 

I was nervous about many things including... no pull ups. We got up and he asked, "Mommy, are we going to school today?" I said yes!! are you excited? He said, yeah! Gave me a little relief since I was already having a little bit of anxiety about all this. 

When we got there, a couple of little girls were crying and right away I noticed he was uneasy...I thought "here we go", we put his back pack and lunch box down and I gave him his last minute "reminders". I felt like I was in a football game and I was talking to one of the kids in the team before I sent him into the field...the battle field! His daddy was saying goodbye and I heard Bennett say something like...."I am not going to....and of course I thought....I am not going to stay here!  Turns out he told Greg, "I am not going to cry" which obviously almost made me cry. I showed him where the legos were and off we went, against my will truthfully, Greg kept grabbing my hand and pulling it saying "Come on sweetie!" while I was thinking "Don't sweetie me right now, I want to make sure my baby is okay before I leave!"

Last picture I took before "sweetie" pulled me out of the room!

Three hours later and many "I hope he is okay"...We picked him up and he was smiling, happy with his little tail he had made attached to his waist...so cute! We did not have any accidents!! (huge relief) I could not feel any happier! He loves his lunch box and "his backpack". I bought him one he did not like so he uses his daddy's bike riding backpack (daddy is not happy about it ) It goes down to his knees, I think its the cutest thing in the world!  

Daddy's Backpack

xo,L

Baby Number 3

Many are shocked about baby No.3, I can honestly say not as shocked as Greg and I were. I did not expect to be able to conceive on my own, after 2 boys, I never expected to be the mom of a little girl and I never expected I would feel overwhelmed as I do now.

Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely thrilled, full of hopes and dreams and anxiously waiting for my baby girl to arrive! But I can't help wondering, why? Why does God think I can do it, what is his plan and why do I feel so overwhelmed?

I want to think this is normal but I just don't know. Maybe its because I have elephant hands, cankles and weigh just about as much as my husband, all of this is pretty depressing. Maybe its because my expectations of myself as a wife and working mom are so high. But, how can you not have such high expectations of yourself when you are dealing with such precious individuals? I don't know.

I do know that, God is in control and I don't have to know the answer to every question (although that would be nice, I almost have Greg convinced that I do /;0). Bottom line for me is to trust Him and not myself or what I think I can and can't do. I know it will take me a little while to figure it out but, I will...eventually....one way or another. My mom said to me "you don't think about it, you just do it"! So, that is exactly what I am planning to do.

Tomorrow Bennett is going to school for the first time, I obviously am more nervous than he is...and I worry about every possible thing that can go wrong. I guess we will find out tomorrow and I will blog about  it...I am excited, my baby is going to school!

xo,L

Brock loving on mom and baby sister

Potty training...I give up

Bennett is starting school in 1 week, I have been trying to work hard on potty training and I am not being very successful, I have to say I am frustrated and after changing underwear 3 or 4 times in only a few hours, I am mad. I shouldn't get mad, I know... and I don't tell him I am but.....Come on!

We have #2 almost under control and we have improved on #1. I guess you just keep trying right?
Is it that he is not ready or I am just not doing a good job? Brock is already wanting to seat on the potty chair, hopefully he "gets" it faster than his big brother.

On the other hand, he is so bright, he is starting to read, knows more dinosaurs than I do, can speak English and Spanish, knows his numbers and overall I think is brighter than I ever was at that age. I am suure, I didn't know about planets, oceans, states and capitals at 3. This worries me too since he told me the other day..."whatever mom, it's my life" Okay, where does a 3 year old get this from? I can only imagine what he will tell me at 6,12 and of course 18. Oh man! Scary !!!

Okay, I shouldn't complain...right?

 This is a video of him at 2 saying the Pledge of Allegiance...his daddy is a patriot so he made sure his baby starts learning at an early age! Enjoy its really cute!
ps...he did get his teeth brushed after the milk.... :)
xo,
L

Why do bad things happen to good people?

I have ALWAYS asked myself that question. Why would GOD let this happen to ...so and so...
I don't understand it yet.... and probably never will.

Once I heard my dad say that seeds need to die to bare fruit...meaning sometimes pain is necessary in our lives to grow, to appreciate and to be thankful.

Sunday, I saw one of you at church and going through difficult times...I cried with her and I have prayed for her. In her sadness though there was  joy, she even said this is was an answer to prayer! Imagine that!!

I do have to agree with her, going through difficult times brings you to your knees and you realize many times,  it is me, myself and I and until that time you know that everyone in your life may fail you but God...and it is wonderful to realize that He is always there, in good times and bad.

As I listen to my boys scream together as I work on this post I can only say...I am so thankful for everyday and I pray that if I ever have to go through difficult times I can find joy knowing God is with me and will Never leave me.

Thank you my friend for reminding me that finding joy in the midst of difficult times is hard but, not impossible!

xo,L

Very Happy!!

I am very happy to share that Lisa (Dr. Bienstock)  is joining the practice. I have been looking for someone special for a long time and I believe I have found her. We are both very much alike in many ways and I think you are all going to love her. My only concern is that you might love her more than you love me!? :)

Anyway, we are working together to continue to make sure that you are always taken care of and loved. I feel she will be a perfect fit and I am thankful and excited to have her in our practice.

We will be having an open house for all the moms out there on July 23rd and we hope to see you there. More details to come!!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July. I have said it before and I will say it again. Although born and raised in Mexico and obviously proud of my Hispanic heritage, I am so proud to also be an American. I love this country and what it stands for.

God Bless you and God Bless America! Land of the free and home of the brave!!!

xo, Lidieth

What do you love the most about your kids...and your husband?

As I try to take it all in...having a 3 year old a 1 year old and a baby girl on the way, I try to enjoy the little things each of them brings to my life.

My Bennett's independence is flourishing, he wants to eat by himself, bathe himself and many other things, initially I was sad but, I love that I see that in him and pray that he becomes a strong, independent individual that can accomplish any goal he sets for himself.

Brock is very strong physically and has a strong will like his mama...he is starting to really show when he is not happy about something and sometimes I don't know what to do about correcting that (hitting his brother)!! Although I don't like it, I do...I want him to be strong and courageous, stand up for himself and others.  He is such a lover though! I can't get enough of that!

My baby girl is growing well and I just love dreaming about her life...will she be mellow like Greg or crazy like me? Will she look like daddy and his brothers or more Mexican, like me?

My husband, the love of my life, my one and only love is...everything to me. I just don't know what I would do without him!    We try to spend a few minutes talking and making out before bed (that is hugging for a few minutes and kissing on the lips). How is that for making out?

My life is about to get a little crazier and I just want to enjoy it. One of you guys said to me, "Long days, short years" and you are so right so, I decided that even if I have an awful day I will be thankful and enjoy the little things that are so precious.
Thanks for letting me share and have my therapy for the day! Have a great one and God Bless!

My strong willed child and his very mellow dad!

Bennett having a little fun.

xo, L

 Love having pictures taken of the boys. Carrie does a great job and somehow always manages to get some good pictures of the boys. Every time we see her I am amazed she can even get them to look at the camera. Let alone smile! Enjoy!

Brock is one year old!

 My baby boy is one year old! Wow... time flies! I am always amazed at the love children bring into your life and how much richer it is because of them. I try to just take it all in, even when there is chaos... which it happens quite a bit around here with 4 boys running around.
I just enjoy the precious time God has given to us with them and treasure the blessing and tremendous responsibility it is.
As I wait anxiously for my baby girl I can't help but dream about what she will look like and what she will be like. Although I worry about it all, I can't help but be full of excitement for what God has planned for us.
Take a moment to take it all in...look at your babies.... enjoy and be thankful!

Life is full of surprises ....and lessons!

First, an apology. I have been so busy for so many reasons I have not had time to sit at my computer and blog. It is crazy to think that you don't even have 5 minutes to do this but, I am so tired at the end of the day that I just want my bed. So, here I am again. Let's keep sharing....

I am a planner and I don't like surprises. I want everything under control at my office at home and with my kids...and husband :) I guess you can call me a control freak. My sisters and brothers all agree I am simply a freak!

God amazes me as he always has these funny ways of sharing little secrets with me like....You are not in control! I should just write it 1000 times and see if that helps.  I just have to understand, accept and KNOW that I am in control of nothing. He is in control of everything and against all odds I am pregnant...AGAIN! Yes, ladies.... again., Yes, I am crazy, Yes, my babies will only be 14 months apart and YES! ......I do know how this happens I just thought it never would without the help of my reproductive endocrinologist.

It is just hilarious to see your faces when you come in the office, look at me then the belly and say "ARE YOU PREGNANT.....AGAIN?! I just love it !!!  So, I guess I am not busy enough and now I have to get into pink, dance, princess stuff and all because IT IS A GIRL!

So, stay tuned this is about to get a lot more exciting and scary at the same time. I can only say God is soo good, His will is perfect and I am totally happy (after a few...ok, more than a few tears) with the idea of having a little girl to raise and love...and fight with when she is a teenager. I can hardly wait.

My boys are growing so fast!

 3 boys that I adore

Thanks for visiting
xoxo, L

A great day!!

Today, I cried quite a bit. Happy tears... I was working at the hospital and I got to witness a lot of miracles happen. This family was one of them, watching the parents look at their baby after her lip was corrected was priceless!!! I took a little video, I can't post it from my phone but will later! It's a must see.
What a day!!! A beautiful and blessed day!

A new day is starting

Last night, my boys were not having a good night... Bennett kept asking me if we could go home. As I was laying in bed after they finally went to sleep I was thinking to myself " why am I doing this to my kids?" and I was feeling pretty awful. This morning my mom was telling a story about her bringing us to mission trips except my little brother almost died from it and she asked herself the same question, why am I doing this to my kids"???
Now she says she is glad she did it because we all love to serve and love God and that is exactly what I want my boys to do....love God, serve Him and serve the people around them that need it. So, I will keep on doing it, it is worth it!!!!
Again, it is more blessed to give than to receive!!!!

The little things

That mean so much !!!!

Juanita

Isn't she a doll?

Day 2

Today, We worked at a church that is about 300 years old. It was beautiful and a beautiful setting for us. We saw about 40 patients and gave out lots of toys, balloons, nail polish and more. It is so much fun to do this it's hardly work. Although i will admit my feet, back and neck kill!
The highlight of my day was a patient I translated for on Sunday. Her name is Juanita and she is 8 months old. She has a cleft lip and palate that was corrected today...she was beautiful even with the cleft and after the surgery she just looked like a little angel. ( I will post the post op picture later after I download my pictures. )

God gives us gifts and talents, the question is, do we use them? Many
times I considered becoming a surgeon because I felt like I could "really" make a difference in people's lives but the reality is; it doesn't matter wether you can fix a cleft lip, pull an abscessed tooth or paint little girls fingernails, it's all about actually doing it and changing lives... Including ours!!! Because BELIEVE me, it is more blessed to give then to receive!
Stay tuned!!! And thanks for stopping by!
Count your blessings!!!
xo,
L

No shoes

How many in our closet..... Me? TOO MANY!

2nd day!!!#

We visited one of the villages today! We pulled teeth right outside this classroom of 1st graders!!
They had a Blast looking at what we were doing and the stuff we gave
them.
I can only say that I consider it a privilege to serve these people, they teach me soo much.
I love this work... It is frustrating because we take so many things for granted.

Today, I feel thankful.

Untreated cancer#

We had 3 patients with cancer today, heart breaking!!!! No other doctors would touch her!!!

More pics #

Beautiful girl with congenital defects..
I will try to get a post op after surgery!#