What??? No more cookies??? You're kidding me??

There's always trouble when Mami tells Luis, "No more cookies!" (Here's a good shot of his mouth full of teeth. I think he has 12 teeth in now.)

MMMMMMMM.... Cookies! Luis' Favorite!!

Luis loves his cookies! Actually Luis just loves to eat and he'll eat anything. We haven't run across anything this little baby won't eat. He loves it all. Surprisingly he absolutely loves Liverwurst (as his dad and also Karen love to eat too). He loves olives, pickles, cabbage, carrots, lemons, and so much more. We're looking for some sort of food he might turn his nose up to but so far haven't run across any food the child dislikes. No picky eater here! His appetite and willingness to eat anything simply amazes me. Cookies still remain Luis' favorite, but are a close tie with hamburger stroganoff (Karen's favorite).

Some pictures of the kids

Here's just a few pictures that I've been wanting to get on here for quite some time now. Most of these were taken last month before the latest round of sickness rolled through our house here.

Double Whammy with the FLU! Yucky week so far!

Well, that just about sums it up. WHAM and just like that we all had the flu which we got through after only a few days, then coasted along for a few days still not 100% but functional. Obviously, too lucky to be done with the flu that easy -- so here come the next go around with the flu and what a WHAMMY that's been. I've been hit harder than I have been in years now it seems. And the rest of the kiddos are just coming into the second part of this sickness so they've still got the worst parts approaching in the days to come. Fabian doesn't get hit hard by sickness (or that's how it's been since we've been home), so I'm hoping he can ride it out. He was sniffling and sneezing a bit all day and having chills late in the evening tonight. I still struggle with trying to keep both Fabian and Karen out of the baby's area when they are sick, or vice versa. We never quite figured out how to explain GERMS to our spanish speakers, and I'm constantly on them about this very thing. I think when I feel better I'll research on the computer how to teach my children about germs and how to curb sickness. That's probably the one thing I struggle to emphasize to my children, and they have made great strides, yes they have, but I really think we can rise above this one with the proper training. They love to wash their hands so we are very fortunate for that. Just some fine tuning and a little explanation of what germs are, how they spread, etc.

I'll write more when I'm feeling better and I would covet any prayers for our family in restoring our health back to normal. Being a single mom (essentially because Rick's gone for another few weeks) during this sickness has been so trying at times. Thankfully God gives just enough to me every day to make it through. And I have to say that I'd be lost without Marissa's help. She's just a divine helper and a wonderful daughter. We're blessed in so many ways!

Goodnight everyone. Just a little something before I sign off, I must say how proud I am of Mario Chalmers, the Kansas Jayhawk player who won the Most Outstanding Player award and hit the 3 pointer that advanced Kansas into overtime tonight. Mario is from Anchorage and it's great to see local Alaskan talent do so well. Much deserved and what an amazing game! Way to go Jayhawks and way to go Super Mario!

Oh how the time melts by nowadays

Really, it seems like forever since I've gotten caught up on my blog entries about any of the eventful things happening in the Hefty household. There's so much to report, and with three more children into the mix, WOW, the time just melts away and the days roll in together. I'm hoping to sit long enough to write just a small portion of what's been happening in the last month.

Rick came home from work for 2 weeks of relaxation and much of his time was spent just enjoying the family. We didn't really do a lot of visiting friends. He had only one or two projects around the house, and the rest of the time was spent leisurely. It was good to have my husband home! Both Rick and I got a touch of the flu while he was here which wasn't so pleasant. It was the achy muscles and chest pain type flu which for days sort of mimicked heart attack symptoms. We were both on guard for days there and it was a little scary just to say the least.

The whole time Rick was away at work for that six weeks, his biggest fear was that the baby would not remember who he was. Even though we would talk every night and Rick would say hello to each child, all along Rick thought Luis being only a year old would not remember him. Well we're very happy to report that Luis remembered his daddy alright and was so excited to see him! He became Daddy's little boy during Rick's time home. And talk about spoiled rotten -- yes, his daddy did plenty of spoiling that little guy too! (But it's hard not to, I gotta admit -- he's just so darn cute but then I'm completely biased and blessed all at the same time!)

Probably the cutest thing that happened while Rick was here was when we were all saying prayers with the kids at night. We were all gathered around in the living room and Rick has Luis seated on his lap in the recliner. Well, that night the kids were doing the "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayer. About that time Luis began cooing and babbling his version of the prayer along with the other kids so naturally I just had to open my eyes and what a sightto see! There he was with his hands crossed too -- just adorable! And when we got to the "God Bless... Papi, and Mami...", the cute little guy starts saying DaDa, DaDa, DaDa. Those are sure the moments that last in one's mind and one's heart and now every night he says his prayers alongside with us (and only prays for his dad so far)! He's just a special little baby boy and we are so blessed with his arrival! Luis does such heartwarming stuff. He leaves us speechless at times with his amazing antics. He still does the "high five" to God where he'll turn his gaze towards heaven while lifting his hand in appreciation for what he's given whether it be his favorite food, or music, or toy. We first noticed him doing this during our 3rd week in Colombia and thought how very cool -- our little boy is praising God at 10 months old without any cues at all from us! It is truly an awesome sight!

When Rick left to go back to work, Luis was sure mad at me! I'm convinced by the looks he sometimes gives that Luis thinks I'm some mean old mom who stuffed his daddy into a little bitty cell phone. He picks up my cell phone all the time and hands it to me and says DaDa while inspecting every nook and cranny of the thing. I've even caught him banging it on the table all the while yelling, "DaDa!", probably thinking there might be some way to break him free. Ahhhh, he is inquisitive... I'm in for some fun years ahead, I just know it!

Mid-February was when Luis began crawling but hasn't started walking yet. He walks all around the furniture and pulls up just fine, but hasn't ventured out into the wide open spaces. From time to time I stand him up in the middle of the living room and then he freaks out realizing he's actually standing up! His confidence just isn't quite there yet, but I give it another few weeks and lookout! He'll be chasing the other kids around in no time flat. Right now he's so cute because Karen or Fabian will come up behind him and he'll begin screaming and break out into a run trying to get away from them, all the while gripping the furniture as he makes his getaway.

Okay, that's just a glimpse of some of the happenings in the past month. I hope to devote some time tomorrow to more things such as our Easter happenings and on how the other kids are progressing along. Their adjustments just amaze me from day to day! As I reminisce back on how far along they've come in just 4 short months time, it's just crazy how things have fallen into place so wonderfully. God is so good!!! I'm incredibly blessed with some wonderful, very smart, and well-behaved children!

Oops, I didn't realize that it was getting so late and need to get in bed. I'm bound and determined to be EARLY for church tomorrow!

More tomorrow. Thank you for checking in on our family! I hope to post a lot of pictures soon. The kids have changed so much and are due for haircuts really soon too! Even the little baby is due for his first haircut. His comb-over is resembling that of Donald Trump's... it's definitely time for a cut!! Okay, I'm babbling now.... G'night!

Translations I found online for Juanes song

After reading Wendi's comment where she said she didn't understand a word Juanes sang but sure enjoyed his voice, I felt compelled to find translations. Here are two translations I found in my hunt (I had actually copied them over to a document from well over a year ago) and each sort of carry on the same meaning, but it's really hard translating lyrics especially because the Spanish language carries such meaning, such passion! Anyways, here they are.

A Dios le pido
I ask of God

Por los dias que me quedan
For the days that I have left
y las noches que aun no llegan yo
And the night that have yet to arrive
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Por los hijos de mis hijos y los hijos de tus hijos
For the kids of my kids and the kids of your kids
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Que mi pueblo no derrame tanta sangre y se levante mi gente
That my people don’t shed so much blood and rise again
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Que mi alma no descanse cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo
That my soul never rest when it comes to loving you my heaven
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Un segundo mas de vida para darte y mi corazon entero entregarte
A second more of life to give you and my whole heart deliver to you
Un segundo mas de vida para darte y a tu lado para siempre yo quedarme
A second more of life to give you and by your side for ever be
Un segundo mas de vida yo a Dios le pido
A second more of life to give you I ask of God
Y que si me muero sea de amor
That if I die is because of love
Y si me enamoro sea de vos
That if I fall in love it would be with you
Y que de tu voz sea este corazon todos los dias a Dios le pido
And that of your voice this heart can be, every day I ask of God



Here is another translation of the lyrics of A Dios le Pido.


Que mis ojos se despierten con la luz de tu mirada yo a Dios le pido
That my eyes wake up every day with the light of your look, I ask to God
Que mi madre no se muera y que mi padre me recuerde a Dios le pido
That my mother will not die and that my dad remembers me, I ask to God
Que te quedes a mi lado y que mas nunca te me vayas mi vida a Dios le pido
That you stay by my side and that you never leave from my life, I ask to God
Que mi alma no descanse cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo a Dios le pido
That my soul never rests when it is about loving you my sky, I ask to God
Por los días que me quedan y las noches que aún no llegan yo a Dios le pido
For all the days that remain and the nights that haven’t arrived, I ask to God
Por los hijos de mis hijos y los hijos de tus hijos a Dios le pido
For the children of my children and the children of your children, I ask to God
Que mi pueblo no derrame tanta sangre y se levante mi gente a Dios le pido
That my country doesn’t spill so much blood and my people will rise, I ask to God
Que mi alma no descanse cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo a Dios le pido
That my soul never rests when it is about loving you my sky, I ask to God
Un segundo más de vida para darte y a tu lado para siempre yo quedarme
One more second of life to give you and to stay forever by your side
Un segundo más de vida para darte y mi corazón entero entregarte
One more second of life to give you and my entire heart to give you
Un segundo más de vida yo a Dios le pido
One more second of life, I ask to God
Y que si me muero sea de amor y si me enamoro sea de vos
And that if I die let it be for love and that if I fall in love let it be with you
y que de tu voz sea este corazón todos los días a Dios le pido
And that your voice will be this heart everyday, I ask to God
Y que si me muero sea de amor y si me enamoro sea de vos
And that if I die let it be for love and that if I fall love in love let it be with you
y que de tu voz sea este corazón todos los días a Dios le pido A Dios le pido
And that your voice will be this heart everyday, I ask to God, I ask to God

Juanes performance of A Dios le pido (I ask to God)

As performed in the PAZ SIN FRONTERAS (Peace Without Borders) concert on March 16, 2008, here's one of my favorite Juanes songs, A Dios le pido (I ask to God) The lyrics are so rich in this song and it touches my soul!
ENJOY!