Firas's World

Where we were and where we are now

2011-09-19T16:23:00.012-05:00

Fadhel, my baby, my youngest child, is doing great el7amdulillah.
I cannot ask Allah SWT for anything more.
When Fadhel was in the NICU, they sent a social worker to talk to me, she asked me if his brothers have seen his picture yet, and I just broke down, and I told her I can't bring myself to take a picture for him like this, it wasn't a memory I wanted to cherish it was one I'll try for the rest of my life to forget.
When Fadhel was connected to the ECMO he basically looked very much like ...
You know what? Google ECMO baby and you'll understand why I couldn't take a picture of him, I can't even put a random picture link to it here
The first time I saw him after he was connected, I almost dropped on the floor.
No one told me that when I see him I won't see his chest moving because the ECMO is doing the breathing for him, I went into his room and I saw him lying there, and I thought he was dead.
The horror of that moment still haunts me. I asked his nurse: IS HE DEAD? and of course she said no, and she explained to me that the ECMO is oxygenating his blood and they are just giving his lungs time to heal.
Throughout the time he spent on ECMO he gained a lot of water weight, he had a very significant swelling in his head on one side even his right eye swelled up.
The first picture I took for him was a day before he was one month old
It was this picture, and you can see how puffy his head looked.

Slowly he started losing the puffiness and water weight through peeing :D, and a week before he was discharged i took this picture for him

Today , well ...almost two weeks ago, here's how our huge tiny miracle look like

Baby Fadhel, 3 months after...

Baby Fadhel 3

2011-09-19T16:17:00.002-05:00

This was also posted on facebook on Monday, August 1, 2011 at 10:24am

Baby Fadhel came home on 07/11/2011 after spending 47 long days at the New
Orleans Children's Hospital NICU. It was a day of joy mixed with fright over
what's coming next.

The past two months have been the longest two months of my life, bar none.

And Baby Fadhel's coming home, at some points seemed so far and very unlikely.

I have 3 boys and an angel, I have endured the loss of my first baby and then each one of my boys had problems that caused them to stay in the NICU for weeks before coming home to us.

3 NICU tours were my cruel predicament

But with Fadhel things were
different....

He was full term, yet he was the sickest of them all, within two days I had to see his condition spiral downwards, and watch every treatment option fail, and then less than two days after he was born I had to say goodbye to him and watch him get air lifted to another hospital to undergo the "last resort very risky" treatment.

What his little body went through is unimaginable to me and I'm sure to everyone else, and to sit with him yesterday's morning and see him smile and hear him coo, it's absolutely a dream coming true.

Baby Fadhel is home but he still has a long way to recover,
so far he is jaundiced, his liver is still recovering from all the blood
transfusions, and he still needs to be monitored for an ASD in his heart. He is
tiny, he might need early intervention with regards to his development, but I
have great hopes and great expectations.

He is not just a fighter, he's our biggest little miracle..

el7amdulillah, we are blessed, with tests and rewards.

Thank you all, family, friends and even perfect strangers
who supported us through prayers and kind words.

Baby Fadhel 2

2011-09-19T16:13:00.003-05:00

I apologize for not updating everyone about baby Fadhel,
I posted this on Facebook on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 1:35pm

Yetsreday Baby Fadhel celebrated his 1 month birthday, to me a milestone that at
times I was losing hope of seeing it coming, el hadmulillah.

Fadhel was disconnected from the ECMO "the artificial lung" on Friday June 10th, if I
recall it right, it was the first good news we hear after he was connected to
it. He was placed on a ventilator for around 10 days and then a week ago they
started letting him breathe on his own.

Two days ago I held him in my arms for the first time after he was born, I was beside myself with joy, and I wish time slowed down then just to let me get enough of holding him.

right now he breathes a bit faster than normal babies, and he just
started learning how to suck formula from a bottle.

He is being weaned off medications, and basically he's in the recovery process.

I cannot be more grateful for your prayers and wishes for him to get better, I'm in complete
owe.

He came a long way, and it was all with Allah's SWT willing and
your prayers.

We visit him daily and can't wait for him to come home.

So thank you from me personally, and our family to each and everyone of
you.

Baby Fadhel

2011-06-01T14:40:00.001-05:00

Dear family and friends

On Friday May 27th 2011, at 1:22 PM I delivered a baby boy, we named him Fadhel. Two hours after baby Fadhel was born, we were told that there is a 50% chance of him being admitted to the NICU due to fluctuations in his blood oxygen level, he was admitted to the NICU at 5 PM Friday.
At 10 his doctor informed us that he was diagnosed with PPHN. during the following day the doctor's tried different treatment methods that would work for few hours and then stop working.
Saturday evening, we were told that if baby Fadhel did not respond to the current treatment, the doctors will need to move him to the Children's Hospital of New Orleans, where they have more treatment options for his condition.

On Sunday morning at 7 AM, baby Fadhel was transferred to the Children's hospital, and at 2PM the doctors at Children's Hospital started the procedure of connecting him to a unit called ECMO, which is an artificial heart and lung machine.

Baby Fadhel has been on the ECMO since then, the machine is oxygenating his blood for him. He's been stable so far, all his labs, X-rays and ultrasounds are giving his doctors and us a reason to be optimistic.

It's been a very difficult time for us, baby Fadhel is not even a week old and he's been through so much already, we hope and pray to Allah SWT to make him better. And we "I personally" ask for your prayers as well.

Ya rab....

At the Playground

2011-03-14T11:31:00.007-05:00

The best m&ms in the world

2011-02-21T11:53:00.000-06:00

Lunch Outside

2011-02-18T11:03:00.007-06:00

Babies (The Movie) & H2O 4 Africa

2010-10-19T15:40:00.002-05:00

A while ago Pam and I took the kids to watch BABIES in the movies, I spent half of the time watching and the other half trying to prevent Fady from eating popcorn off the floor.

After watching it I was left with so many contradicting emotions, the movie tried to emphasize that babies are babies regardless of the environment and conditions they are born into, especially in the first year of their life. I got that, but there was one scene that kept nagging and nagging on me.

In a very cruel contrast, and it might not be cruel to the ordinary viewer, but to a mother with heightened sensitivity towards injustice it does; they showed the American mother get in a hot tub or a jacuzzi with her baby and gets out in few seconds because the baby was startled by the water jets and started crying. Before the end of the movie the other side of the contrast was shown with the Namibian baby being introduced to fresh water for what seemed to be the first time of his life when he was almost ONE YEAR OLD.

I cannot say that the water in the hot tub could've been used as drinking water for the Namibian family for weeks, it doesn't work this way.

But there is a way: if you own a hot tub and you averaged your utility charges then skipped using the hot tub for a couple of times a month you can calculate the difference and donate it to H2O for Africa.

But, I don't have a hot tub... bummer!! or maybe not

So.... I decided for the coming month I'm gonna print coupons and use them when I do grocery shopping, the receipt will indicate how much I saved in each visit, I will sum the savings of the month and donate the amount for H2O for Africa, would that help? a tiny little bit maybe... But I'm hoping that month after month, year after year, my kids will watch Part 2 of babies with their own kids but this time: The Namibian Baby will have access to fresh clean water... and maybe some diapers :-D)

The Highlights of The Weekend

2010-10-04T15:53:00.012-05:00

Before the weekend, Huggies FB Group asked about the biggest mess your tot has made lately.

From other people responses and pictures, I noticed that my kids don't get to make big messes which seem to be very entertaining.
So this weekend's resolution was to let them make a mess, and we did.
We got finger paint and lots of papers and made paintings, I also dug up a keepsake kit that my co-worker gave to me and we managed to get their hand prints on it.
And then a long bubble bath.
On Sunday we made cupcakes, both kids helped believe it or not, they wanted to eat it right away not decorate it so I let them do that, and we had cupcake crumbs everywhere, my husband was not happy, but both the kids and me were very happy.
Also this weekend I did something new, I printed coupons using coupons.com for grocery shopping, I used them on Friday & I managed to get almost $ 11 off an 80 something tab.
It's not bad, and I'll get better in time.
So all in all, the kids were active, we accomplished a lot and we saved some money.

Last Sunday

2010-10-01T15:45:00.018-05:00

Was a success...
We took the kids to the monkey room and then to the zoo, for some reason many of the animals were being walked or fed by the time we went to see them, so we got really close them.

Firas touched a snake, a baby hedgehog, a Guinna pig, and a domestic goat. We saw a couple of hundred years old tortoise taking a very slow stroll, we saw the birds while they were being fed, huge white pelicans were standing just a couple of feet from us.

The leopard, a long tailed monkey, and the orangutan all had babies and we got to see the playful little ones and it was utterly amazing. I felt like it was an organized series of coincidences to make our visit to the zoo very enjoyable and that it was.

The kids saw most of the Baby Einstein Baby Noah animals. Fady called all the animals monkey though.

On one area the zoo set up a station to educate the kids about the Gulf Oil Spill, they put plastic turtles in a tub spilled Hershy chocolate syrup on it, and taught the kids to clean it. Firas did that and he really liked it.

It was almost a perfect a day, had the Saints won....

Here are some pictures

Have a Bubbly Eid !

2010-09-09T11:51:00.003-05:00

We accept Visa and Master Cards!

Undeniable Charisma

2010-08-31T14:06:00.004-05:00

Some Pictures

2010-08-18T09:54:00.023-05:00

Wide Smile - Metairie, La, WDSU's u local Photo

2010-07-16T08:43:00.000-05:00

Wide Smile - Metairie, La, WDSU's u local Photo

Inflatables...

2010-07-07T11:47:00.003-05:00

We took Firas to an "inflatables" place, it was his second time.

He's a bit young and he's really tiny and I guess I worry too much, that's why I didn't take him there before.

He started out cautios and sort of disoriented but within half an hour he was having fun and running really fast, going up and down the slides.
He was so fast I couldn't even take his picture, and he wouldn't stop for me to take a picture.

Here's his foot..

both feet

Did I get him? Nope...

LOL

Here he is

And Finally I got this one in the car.

I think we're gonna do his third birthday party there.

Happy Birthday Goofy

2010-07-01T15:55:00.006-05:00

Yesterday "baba" wasn't feeling good.

he had some fever, and I gave him medicine but I also put a cooling pad that I use for the kids on his forehead.

The cooling pad which was for kids had mickey mouse characters on it.

Anyway, in the evening baba woke up to get something to drink and he passed us,

Firas stared at him for seconds and then he screamed GoOoOoOFY while pointing at him.

I almost fell off my chair from laughter.

But then I remembered that Goofy's emotional interest is "Clarabelle" the cow.

And then I stopped laughing.

Today is my husband's birthday

So... Happy Birthday Goofy, we hope you get better soon.

A Portrait for Firas

2010-06-24T10:03:00.002-05:00

made by the one and only Chuck E Cheese *wink*

Handsome is his Middle Name

2010-06-15T08:39:00.004-05:00

Who is Who? -2-

2010-06-09T12:17:00.003-05:00

Guess again..^___^

Who is Who?

2010-06-02T15:21:00.004-05:00

The top picture is for Fady and the bottom is for Firas.

It looks like it's the same baby, doesn't it?

Random Pictures

2010-05-21T09:01:00.005-05:00

Curly Locks R Back

2010-05-17T11:23:00.003-05:00

Mother's Day "Revisited"

2010-05-17T11:15:00.002-05:00

The thing is, if anyone deserves a gift on mother's day, it would be me.
Having to go through what you and I know to have Firas and Fady, you of all people should be the first to get me a gift.
It was really just "the thought that counts" occasion, but still.
I guess it's just gonna be another day you ruined for me, another miserable memory to add to the bunch I have and keep remembering whenever we fight.
A card would've been enough!
Pity!

BTW Firas

2010-05-14T12:25:00.002-05:00

For Mother's Day, baba gave me nothing!

So thanks baba for being clueless.

Just wanted to put it in writing.

Sometimes

2010-05-12T14:25:00.004-05:00

The only feeling I have is being "trapped" in this prison called marriage....

Sometimes

A Fine Day

2010-04-26T10:47:00.004-05:00

In Mandelville yesterday, it couldn't have been better.

And yes the hair is back, sort of, and baba knows not to miss with it ever again.

languages of mom bracelet

2010-04-21T11:41:00.001-05:00

Isn't this the prettiest bracelet?

It has the word mom etched on it in 32 different languages.

Steak & Ale 2 Chick-A-Fillet

2010-04-19T11:32:00.001-05:00

When I came to New Orleans 5 years ago we went to a steak house place called Steak and Ale. We would go there whenever we got the chance to, good steak and nice service, then one day they closed, and I felt bad.
But not for long, Chick-A-Fillet took over the place, tore the building down and built a big brand new Chick-A-Fillet restaurant there, I sill wanted Stake & Ale back but not after I saw Chick-A-Fillet's -BRAND NEW KIDS PLAYGROUND.
Yesterday we took the kids there, and I felt like the smartest mom on earth because my kids can play on this brand new probably Germ-Free play ground.
Guess what? There's a Heck lot of smart moms in New Orleans. LOL
But it was one of those the more the merryer situations.
Anyway, the kids had fun, they ate good and I took some pictures.

Vote For Fady Plz

2010-04-15T08:35:00.000-05:00

Vote for me in this contest!

Contest details

Outdoor PlaySets

2010-04-14T15:37:00.000-05:00

I can get the kids any two of the four playsets showed bellow.

The combinations can be:

a) Sand & Water

b) Slide and Table

c) Sand & Table

d) Water & Table

e) Slide and Water

f) Slide and Sand

I'm leaning towards getting them the slide and the water table, but the picnic table is really practical, the slide and the table both can be folded and are very light. The sand table has a cover with roads and can be used for car racing, but I have to buy the sand separately and I don't look forward to the sandy mess.

Your input is very very appreciated .

Step2 Naturally Playful Sand Table

Step2 Play Up Fun Fold Jr. Picnic Table

Step2 Arctic Splash Water Wheel Table

Step2 Play Up Fun-Fold Jr. Slide

Lost In Translation

2010-04-14T10:05:00.000-05:00

We were at the doctor's office yesterday, My Husband & I. and this conversation went on as we sat in the waiting room.

Me(after getting the idea from an ad in the magazine that I was flipping": I want to carve my sons' names on my ring.
Him:Carve... yes, that's what .Z's husband does, you know he sells gold.
2 minutes silence...
Him: But you know, It's not carve it's something like it.
Me: Engrave :D
Him: Yes yes yes, that's it.
.
..
Him: it's not EN-grave, it sounds more like graving.
Me: it's definitely engrave..
Him: yes you're right.
.
..
...
Him: grave, isn't that where they put dead people.
Me: yes.
Him: and it also means someone with courage right?
Me: you mean brave.
Him" laughing with embarrassment": yes yes, hahaha ya habla (silly girl in Arabic) lesh heek bte3rafeesh engleezi? "Why aren't you good in English? "
Me: Laughing .... you should audition for Wheel of Fortune. :D

Kids Love Bubbles

2010-04-13T10:11:00.000-05:00

And anything that relates to them...

Summer is Almost Here

2010-04-09T09:48:00.001-05:00

Whoever invented these things is either a genius or a mom.

Parenting Books

2010-04-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

I got The Happiest Toddler on the Block a long while back when I was having terrible twos with Firas, It was really helpful. I found out parenting mistakes I used to do, I learned more about how Firas's brain is processing data, I learned toddler-ese, and most importantly I learned that I'm going through what almost every mom goes through with her 2 YO.

It gave me insight on how to avoid meltdowns, and it worked. I now have a couple of tricks up my sleeve to avoid public embarrassments with Firas.
Actually, finding ways to avoid problems with my kids is now my new hobby.

After witnessing first hand how helpful this book is I decided to keep up on brushing my parenting skills, I'm now waiting for a new book, actually two books, one about parenting and the other one is about cooking for toddlers since I'm an epic failure in this area.

Parenting by itself is a great learning experience, I try my best to be a good mom, but it just doesn't come like that, I believe I have to work hard to become a good mom, read read and read some more, ask for advice for everyone and have lots and lots and lots of patience.

So... any good parenting book recommendation out there?

Easter Egg Hunt, Rides and some fun

2010-04-06T16:20:00.000-05:00

Riding on the Itsy Bitsy Spider

In Rapunzel's Castle

Firas & Siya sitting on Stanly The Gator's lap

Firas and Siya on the trucks ride
Firas and Siya on the monkey ride
Firas on the carousel

Firas on Peter Pan's ship.

Pretty Day at City Park

2010-03-30T11:44:00.000-05:00

We took them there on Sunday, Fady just watched , Firas played but he wasn't familiar with the kids at first, so he took his time.
There was a wedding there, I thought it was really romantic, an outdoor wedding surrounded by the oldest oaks in the united states.
It was just one of those perfect days.

Pint-size healer

2010-03-24T13:33:00.000-05:00

Be it miscarriage or fetal demise later on in pregnancy, the situation is almost as hard and as sad for both. Many women face it and deal with it. With my angel Ashraf I remember getting the most sympathetic comments from some and shocking unintentional ones from others. In these situations, no words can ease the pain, but a simple honest comment will always help a little bit.

Susan Atterstorm's 6 year old Luke knew exactly what to say, ten simple words. The exact right ten words that his mom needed to hear. I read this article long time ago and it moved me so much.

After her miscarriage, a mother's 6-year-old son has just the
right words.

Hearing the News
I often wonder what I
was doing at the moment my baby's heart stopped beating inside of me. Was I
folding laundry? Sleeping? Helping the kids with homework? Perhaps it happened
during one of my adrenaline highs when I'd suddenly remember I was pregnant. In
those moments, I was at absolute peace.
"Are you crazy?" people had asked.
"Why would you want more kids?" I let them make me feel greedy. After all,
raising children is expensive. Starting over with a new baby in the house would
set us back. It would mean Caroline, almost 8, might not get gymnastics lessons
or Luke, 6, might not get to play baseball. Never mind going to Disney
World!
Although part of me obsessed about what my family might be
sacrificing, I couldn't help but be overjoyed when I saw two pink lines on the
pregnancy test. And I remained overjoyed for the next several weeks, even
through the vomiting and fatigue my 38-year-old body was experiencing. With each
overwhelming wave of nausea, I'd think, At least I know I'm still
pregnant!
It was all worth it because in a few more months, I would be able
to breathe in the sweet smell of a new life.
Then I saw the drop of blood.
No! A shock of panic raced through me. This can't be happening! But it was. And
over the next 24 hours, my heart slowly broke.
"Nope, this isn't a viable
pregnancy," said the ultrasound technician, as if she were chatting to me about
the weather. "But look on the bright side. At least you weren't further
along."
For a moment, I considered strangling her with the ultrasound cord,
but I knew I'd never last in jail. So, instead, I took out my anger on a roll of
toilet paper that was jammed in its holder in the hospital bathroom. I clawed at
it, yanked at it, and swore at it until I had enough wadded-up shreds of tissue
to wipe my eyes. (Please God, make this not be real. I promise I'll eat better.
I'll start exercising. I'll....)
"We'll need to schedule a D&C," my
doctor said, trying his best to be discreet despite the staring eyes in the
waiting room.
Mind your own business! I wanted to shout at these strangers
who were scrutinizing me. Instead, I fought the lump in my throat and pretended
I was fine. Yet I wasn't fine. I was a puffy-eyed, mascara-stained, devastated
woman "of advanced maternal age" who had just lost her dream of having another
baby.
"I'll call you tomorrow," I told my doctor, in my bravest voice. Then I
wandered the halls of the hospital maze and desperately searched for the right
exit sign. I wanted to be home, yet I dreaded going there. I didn't want to face
Caroline, who was elated with the news she would be a big sister again. She had
repeatedly kissed my belly and squeezed me with the delight that only a child
can possess. I didn't want to face Luke, who had overheard our baby news and put
in an order for a brother ("Remember, not a sister!") And I didn't want to face
my husband, Jeff, because I knew that he wanted this baby too. "Would you be
horrified if we had another child?" I had asked him when I found out.
"I'm
horrified by the two we have now," he replied, with a chuckle.
And though
there may have been some truth to his statement, my worries were lessened when I
saw him dusting off the crib in the basement the next day.

Letting It Sink In
As I sat numbly in
my driveway, staring at my family through the bay window, I wondered how I could
tell them all that I'd failed. That's how I felt, as if I had failed.
Fortunately, Jeff found a way to break the news to the kids, and I was greeted
with love.
Caroline, in her sweet innocence, had drawn me a picture of four
people smiling. "Mom," "Dad," "Caroline," and "Luke" floated above their heads.
It was her way of telling me our family was still intact. I wanted to cry,
knowing that her drawings, just a few days before, had included a fifth happy
stick figure, much smaller than the rest. Luke just fidgeted in his seat and
said nothing -- he was too young to understand.
I don't remember how I got
through the bedtime rituals that night. I do, however, remember using every bit
of motherly strength the next day to stand on the sidelines of a parade while
Caroline and her Brownie troop waved at their fans.
I came home and dropped
onto my couch. I was in labor, without the reward. I watched Jeff through the
window as he washed the cars. (Doesn't he care that I am bleeding to death?)
Then I saw him squirting the kids with the hose, and I heard their giggles, and
I knew he was doing his best to keep them from seeing my pain. I called my
doctor, whose overbooked schedule caused me to wait six hours (through several
births) before he performed the D&C.

All Alone
I would have given anything for
Luke's birthday not to be the next day, but we had special plans that I could
not ruin for him. So I stuck a gigantic hospital pad to my underwear and once
again put on the happy face. But over the next couple of days, I found I had no
more happy faces left. My hormones had become my enemy. No matter how hard I
tried, I could not stop crying. With each well-meaning phone call from the
people in my life, I sank further into depression.
"Everything happens for a
reason," most people said to me. And what reason is that?
"It's probably a
blessing," I heard from others. Funny, it doesn't feel like one.
Then there
were the more creative comments. "At least now you can drink." "At least you
won't be fat in a bathing suit this summer." "Think about how much more money
you'll have to shop."
I could feel the unspoken expectation that I should
"get over it." I was alone.

Ten Simple Words
By the end of the week,
my grief was compounded by guilt. Jeff told me to take as much time off from
work as I needed, but I knew that my paycheck helped us survive. I knew Caroline
didn't mind feeding the dog, emptying the dishwasher, and helping Luke with his
bath, but I wasn't being fair to her. Those were my responsibilities, not hers.
Luke had avoided me since I returned from the hospital. I hated seeing him
confused by my sadness, but I didn't have the energy to change the situation.
He's just too little to get this.
I had to get back into life. But
how?
Then something happened. As I was tucking Luke into bed, in the quiet
moments before sleep, he said he had something to tell me. Then he held my face
in his little hands to be sure that I was listening.
"I
love you," he whispered. "And I'm sorry that the baby
died."
Those ten simple words took my breath away.
They were the words I had waited a week to hear.
In that instant, my sadness
was moved to another place. A place only I will know. And I thought about the
women who have gone through miscarriages without ever having even one child. I
had been blessed with the gift of two. And from these gifts, I have learned how
to act and what to say if someone experiences this kind of loss.

Source

The Imagination Movers

2010-03-10T11:27:00.000-06:00

We took the kids to see them on Sunday...
It was really fun, strange enough though Fady had more fun than Firas.

AAAAAAAAAAAAH I wanna scream !

2010-02-26T15:14:00.001-06:00

All I asked him to do was to leave the plastic bag and the clean T-shirts that I put on the passenger seat at Miss Diane's so when I go and pick them up I'd be ready to go to the mall.
HE DIDN'T DO IT!
I want to #$!%^&$$##

The other day I prepared what I called time saver bags.
In a ziplock bag I put one pack of huggies travel size wipes, 3 individual hand sanitizing wipes 3 fresh diapers, two disposable changing pads one scented plastic bag (for Fady if had one of those stink bomb diapers) and one pocket size kleanix.

I thought if I needed to go some where I can just grab one put it in the diaper bag and this way I'd cut the time needed for preparing a diaper bag for two babies in half.

Today I wanted to go out with a friend right after work, so I filled the normal bag that we give to miss Diane with extra milk bottles for Fady and more juice for Firas, and I put tow fresh T-shirts for them on the side with one time saver bag. I told my husband to drop it at miss Diane when he drop the kids, but you'd think he'd remember to do it? absofreakinlutely NOT!
right now they are sitting on the passenger seat of his car.

Good job Mr Good JOB!

Things that make you go :Awwwwwww!

2010-02-25T11:16:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was carrying Fady and I stepped on one of Firas's little toys.
It hurt and I said Ouch!
Firas was playing, and suddenly he looked up at me and said : you OK?
Sigh... :)

An Unexpected Gift

2010-02-25T10:22:00.000-06:00

Few weeks ago we went home and there was a big bag full of children books sitting on our front porch. I knew who it was from because she already told me that she'll do that, so: Thank you so much!
Every week I get 5 or six books out of the bag and read one for Firas once a day.
I loved most of them, but so far two of them really stood out
the first one is this one:

It's simply warm.

I love you as the stars love you, constant and bright above you, giving you joy
and peace and wonder.
I love you as the stars love you.
Forever and ever and always....

And the other one is this one

It is a mother-made up story about a brave boy who saves his country "Holland" from getting flooded. It became so popular that people thought it was true and started asking the people of Holland about Peter the brave boy, so they decided to.... I'm not gonna spoil the story ;)

It is also a blue ribbon book which means that the Center for Children's Books gave the book an excellent review.

These books are a great gift on their own, and the fact that my kids are the third generation to use them makes it more special.

?!?!

2010-02-08T16:06:00.001-06:00

My husband is a great father, but he's not that great of a husband.
Sometimes, he says hurtful things, things I just can't get over,but I ignore, until he says another hurtful thing, then it all comes back to me, and it makes me sad, miserable, and more or less broken .

What do I do to keep this ship from sinking?

The Ants Go Marching 1 x 1

2010-01-29T14:59:00.000-06:00

Here Firas is Marching to Barney's song "The Ants Go Marching" while biting on one of his brother's teething biscuits. And Fady is biting the other teething biscuit.

which reminds me that we are out of teething biscuits.

Excuse me!

2010-01-29T12:12:00.000-06:00

Inspired by Cookie Monster's manners, I started teaching Firas to say: Excuse me! when he burbs.
So for the past week I've been saying "Excuse Me!" every time I hear him burps.
Last night he burped and said: Sue me!

Close enough!!!

Father Knows Less

2010-01-25T12:16:00.000-06:00

I got this book as a gift for my husband, and ended up reading it.

It's light and funny and informative at the same time.

The author has two kids, the boy was 7 when he wrote the book and the girl was 3.

He started collecting his son's questions ever since he started asking questions, and then he answered them one by one, not from google. He asked a reliable person who knew the answer by heart because either it's his field of expertise or he lived the question, like asking the chief of police in new york: why do cops like donuts?

I got it for my husband who rarely reads and he put it aside. How do I make him read and enjoy the book as much as I am enjoying it right now?

Outdoors Jason Mraz

2010-01-12T12:05:00.000-06:00

Sesame Street. Outdoors with Jason Mraz. @ Yahoo! Video

The original song "I'm Yours" is one of my favorites, it has the type of tune that makes you snap your fingers and shake your head with it.

Last week we were watching Sesame Street and Jason Mraz was guest starring and he sang this "Outdoors" song with Elmo and the rest of the monsters, Firas loved it so much and he just stood up and started jumping with the tune.

This boy has rhythm in his blood.

The Undeniable Proof

2010-01-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

that my husband is the greatest dad on earth is that:
The other day he was singing "Do U Know The Muffin Man?" While shaving.

What kind of mom are you?

2010-01-08T14:32:00.000-06:00

You are the Mother we all love to hate because you're so damn POPULAR. Your kids love to be with you and yet you don't let them push you or anyone else around. You are also able to chill out and let the little punks monkey around and get messy. You also don't mind getting messy with them. You're tons of fun: you throw yourself into kids play with great passion! Forts, crafts, soccer games, you do it all! You do your best to get the kids a healthy meal but if pizza pops up three nights in a row, so be it. It's hard to find fault with your type so please be prepared to have friends begin to hate you or exhibit extreme jealousy. Enjoy!

P.S. If you don't like your first result, you can take it again and lie (^___^)

I copied this from Melissa's Blog

Irony

2010-01-08T14:13:00.000-06:00

Is when my kids's favorite commercial on TV is this one

A Birth Control Method Commerial !!! LOL

The Moon Dance

2010-01-08T10:02:00.000-06:00

During the Christmas and new year holiday, Firas and I learned how to do Elmo's moon walk. Firas also learned the word push, whenever he wants to play push-mama-of-the-bed game.

He learned the difference between more and again, and now he uses more if he wants more food, or more candy, and again if he wants to be thrown in the air or if he wants mama to act silly and make him laugh.

All through the holiday's Firas called me miss Diane, which is the name of the lady who takes care of him, it didn't upset me because I know he knows I'm his mama, and because when I pointed at my self and said mama he pointed at himself and said mama so I thought: it's better if he called me miss Diane than him calling himself mama.

During the holidays Firas learned to put mama and baba in ti(n)e outs. It's the cutest thing ever. He also learned the word Shater.

I found out that Firas is a talented actor, he would hit Fady and make him cry and when he saw me soothing him he just hit himself on the head came to me crying with real tears and claimed that the baby did it. I would've believed him if I hadn't seen him do it.

We did a lot of stuff during the holidays, Firas learned the letter A B & C and he counts till 4 skips 5 7 & 8 jumps to 9 and then 10. we got some finger paint and made a big mess but it was worth it. We watched Finding Nimo a gazillion time and we enjoyed it every single time. We went to the playground at the end of the street a couple of times and mama went down the slide for the first time since God knows when. We went to see Walt Disney's Fairy Tale museum at City Park and it was great.

I loved being home with my babies, it was just amazing.

I won...

2009-12-15T09:45:00.000-06:00

A $25 visa card from huggies, remember this post?

And I managed to get Firas this for free also

It just feels nice, being thrifty or getting free stuff... I don't know how to describe it.

Belated Adha Greetings

2009-12-03T08:45:00.001-06:00

Hope you had a blast!

Thanks foof .

Which Picture?

2009-11-23T11:37:00.001-06:00

Should I use to make it an Adha Feast greeting card?

-1-

-2-
-3-

-4-

RU?

2009-11-19T11:54:00.000-06:00

registered in these programs?

Pampers &

Huggies

I got Fady's birth announcements as a gift from pampers with my gifts to grow points. And I haven't won anything from Huggies, yet. But I racked up about 110 points.

Anyway, if you have baby (ies), and you're not interested in these programs, it would be very nice of you to give the codes. * blinking smiley*

Firas @ Kannon's Birthday

2009-11-18T11:15:00.001-06:00

There was an old woman

2009-11-18T09:32:00.000-06:00

who lived in a shoe.

She had so many children,

she didn't know what to do;

She gave them some broth

without any bread;

Then whipped them all soundly

and put them to bed

Terrible twos

2009-11-16T12:09:00.000-06:00

There is a reason why they call it that.
I'm failing at disciplining Firas.
I don't know what to do. sigh

A Picture & A Story

2009-11-13T08:43:00.000-06:00

About two months ago, a red spot the size of a jelly bean appeared on Fady's leg. About 3 weeks ago, another smaller one appeared on the same leg, I showed it to his pediatrician, and I told my brother who is also a pediatrician, about the spots. He Asked me to take a picture and e-mail it to him, and so I did.

Firas Saw me taking a picture of Fady's leg, and this is what he did next:

Yes, he put his legs in front of me, asking me to take a picture of them.

Help Me!

2009-11-11T10:50:00.000-06:00

When we (me and the kids) reach home around 5:05 PM every weekday I have to do the following:

Get both kids changed. (10-15 minutes)
Make something for Firas to eat (bake nuggets and French fries, reheat a frozen dinner) or heat some meatballs and spaghetti if it's his lucky day. (it can take 2 and a half minutes or 25 minutes)
Feed Firas. (20-40 minutes)
Clean the morning dishes, Fady's used bottles sterilize them and prepare a fresh batch of bottles. 15 minutes + 4 to sterilize
Do some house chores while keeping an eye on the kids. (collecting toys, clean bathrooms, or vacuum). Not less than 20 minutes.
Give Fady a bottle. This doesn't take any time since he holds his bottle, my very good baaaaaaaby.
Entertain Firas (blow bubbles or coloring a page in his coloring book). 15-30 minutes
Give Firas a bath(good 40 minutes at least).
Give Fady a bath (15 minutes max)
Try to give Firas any type of food, he's too skinny. 1
Sometimes do the laundry or put the laundry away.

I have to do all these in less than 5 hours period because 10.00 PM bedtime is too late for babies.

Honestly, how can I do all this especially when one or both of them is whiny or fussy??

ღ Somebody Just Turned 2 ღ

2009-11-10T09:56:00.000-06:00

Do you like my hat?

2009-11-04T10:16:00.000-06:00

Our McDreamy

2009-10-26T13:09:00.001-05:00

What do you think?

His Hair

2009-10-22T12:41:00.000-05:00

Doesn't seem to grow as it was before.
I hope he didn't ruin his curly locks forever. I would be crushed!!!
Why am I making a big issue out of this???

حلبانه السياله

2009-10-21T11:53:00.000-05:00

مرة في أحد المساجد والإمام يصلي بنا

بديت أسمع الجهة من اللي يميني وإحنا ساجدين

صوت واحد صغير يقول(شعععععن شععععن) وكأنه يحاول تقليد صوت تشغيل السيارة

ثم يتلوه صوت رجال كبير يصرخ، وهكذا في كل مره نسجد أو نركع

المهم الصوت كل مره يقترب مني وأنا كل مرة أسمع(شععععععن)ثم يتلوه نحنحة إحممم من الرجال اللي يصيبه هذا الشئ

وصل الصوت لجاري وسمعته يفز

. ما عرفت السر لين وصلني الدور

وأتاري الطفل مآخذ مفتاح أبوه وجالس يشغلنا من وراء

ويغز المفتاح فينا لما نسجد والمشكلة انه مجرب المفتاح على الجماعة كلهم

والشخص اللي مسوي نفسه ثقيل وما يفز ولا يتحمحم يقول عنه الطفل :(حلبانه السياله).........ويقصد

خربانه السياره

يا باي شو ضحكت عليها

بطنييي

Who R U?

2009-10-15T14:54:00.000-05:00

Today president Obama was in the university where I work, he was giving a speech about an hour ago, in the building across the street from where I work.

Till yesterday, I did not know he was coming,where was I?

Somehow, I became this maternal creature, thinking of my babies, worrying about my babies, planning for my babies, I live for them, I inhale their smell, milk and baby powder, spit up and dirty diapers, but this is not excuse, to be this much out of touch with the world, or is it?

The reality is, I didn't ask for this nor have I done it to myself, the reality is it was forced upon me by the cutest, most adorable little guys I've met in my life.

And I'm even surprised to say this, but when I was given the choice to spend some time with either "the most important man in the world right now" or my babies, I instinctively picked my babies.

I'd love to meet the president one day, but with my kids by my side, call me greedy, maybe I am.

Hair Today... Painted Tomorrow

2009-10-06T10:14:00.000-05:00

That was my revenge. Of course the paint only lasted one day :(

Hair Today... Gone Tomorrow

2009-10-01T09:09:00.001-05:00

We've been talking about cutting Firas's hair for a while, since he looks like a mini Waleed Tawefeeq.
We just had other stuff to do, until the day before yesterday. We went to JC Penny's salon, got their hours and card and after talking with my husband I went to work yesterday thinking that we agreed on cutting it the coming Sunday @ 11 AM.
Yesterday at ten my husband calls and he says that I gave him the wrong name of the haircut, it turned out that he took Firas from the daycare, found a barber's shop and asked him to cut his hair like marines.
I cried, silly, I know, but I did.
His hair is just a part of his personality, it's really precious to me.
And it's all gone now.
Both my kids are almost baldies now, and I feel so bad.
He looks so different, not that I love him less or anything.
It's gonna grow back. But meanwhile every time I look at him I miss his curly locks.

Happy Eid

2009-09-22T09:48:00.001-05:00

From all of us

هل هلالك يا رمضان

2009-08-24T08:56:00.000-05:00

ღღ

2009-08-13T14:19:00.000-05:00

Firas & The Stroller ;-)

2009-07-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

Firas & Fadi

2009-07-12T14:07:00.000-05:00

dedicated to teta om yasser & teta om imad

I remember

2009-06-18T10:48:00.000-05:00

When I was a child I would be washing my hands, and I would try to wrap my fingers around the water string that is coming out of the tab.
Some time later I grew up and I stopped doing it.

Yesterday we tried bathing Firas in the big tub. I knew he was afraid of the shower so we didn't use that. I opened the tab slowly and allowed a thin stream to come out and right then Firas tried to wrap his fingers around the water stream. He tried and tried and then got fed up and started splashing water everywhere.

Words cannot describe how proud I am.

I was waiting for that

2009-06-10T10:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday around 7 pm Firas did something I was waiting for him to do for a long time. He wore one of my flip flops in his tiny foot.
As much silly or ordinary as it may sound but for me it's not. He's growing up so fast, my little comedian. When he came out of the bedroom running with the flip flop hanging around his ankle I felt so happy. I laughed out loud, I wanted to hug him to kiss him all over, but I did nothing. I just enjoyed the moment with him.
Being a mom is a great bless, it takes away the fear of growing older, now I look forward to growing older, my age is no longer significant, my kids' age is.
I love his moves, dancing to certain commercials, talking gibberish over the remote control, hiding when I want to change his diaper, pretending to kiss his baby's brother head while he's actually spitting.
So ordinary yet so precious.

Isn't He!!!!

2009-06-05T13:02:00.000-05:00

One of the most beautiful kids you've ever seen?

Or is it just because he's my son?

Our Little Man

2009-03-10T14:53:00.001-05:00

Click on picture to enlarge

Today's Dessert: Firas with Oreo

2009-02-16T09:23:00.001-06:00

Peek A BOO

2009-02-12T09:09:00.000-06:00

Finally Walking

2008-12-22T14:45:00.000-06:00

To all the new mothers and the mothers to be who are reading this post I wanna say sorry. But I'm about to reveal the fact that there is no such thing as first steps.

When your baby starts to walk it takes about a month or a month and a half to master it.

almost three months ago Firas started walking using the sofa sides as aids. a month and a half ago he started standing up on his own without taking any steps. In time he started taking two steps and falling down, three to four steps falling down, then 6 and 7 steps and falling down, yes I counted.

But he's walking now. Why I think he's walking? Because he's happy that he's doing that.

He walks back and forth like the father in the waiting room and then he screams with joy. He knows he can walk so

this is the exact time when I can say " yeeeeeeeeeeey, Firas is walking".

And by the way, with his diaper bulging from behind he walks exactly like Donald duck.

Getting A Haircut

2008-11-18T12:23:00.001-06:00

Please don't laugh at the hairclip. >^__^<

Smile Mama

2008-11-17T15:01:00.000-06:00

Firas had a haircut on Saturday. Yeah I know it's about time.
He looked so boyish afterwards.
For the rest of Saturday and all through Sunday I kept staring at him, while he played, while he was busy, I loved the haircut and felt some kind of loss for the curly locks.
What was amazing to me is that whenever he would catch me looking at him he would smile, a big pure very innocent smile, I couldn't help but smile back, my heat was dancing.
You probably noticed that Firas is a smiling baby. He smiles here on the 36th second, and here on the 41st second while eating mango. He smiles while I'm focusing, and probably frowning just to make me smile back.
Firas taught me how to smile all over again.

First B-Day Pictures

2008-11-10T09:30:00.000-06:00

Almost A Year Ago

2008-11-07T14:10:00.001-06:00

Though I remember it like it was yesterday.

They scheduled my c-section to be on Nov 8 2007. I packed my stuff according to the Modern Mother Guide, we cleaned the house, I bought last minute silly things, . I took a long bath in the morning, and by 8:00 AM we were in the hospital, there was a final ultrasound to see the status of the cord that was wrapped around Firas's neck. I was then wheeled to labor and delivery, I changed to a hospital gown, they started some IVs on me, a nurse came and told me that they are prepping the operation room. My husband was there watching news, my friend Pam came around 10 I think, I wanted her to be there by my side, and my husband would've probably fainted once he sees them cutting through my abdomen, so it was a win-win situation.

At 12:20 PM they took me to the operation room, where I was reacquainted with the Anastasia doctors, with face masks this time. They started the pick line for the epidural, I complained that it was really cold in there. They said it's OK.

I was then laid back on the operation table my hands were stretched apart and hooked to all these monitors, they put another table on top of my pregnant belly, covered it with a sheet and I couldn't see or feel anything afterwards.

Pam came in, my doctor came in, and then they started the incision, they told me I would feel some pressure, and it was very slight. No pain at all.

Then Pam looked and saw this head full of black hair, and a huge hand wresting on my belly, Firas's helped the doctor by freeing his arm and getting it out, and then he was all out.

There was a little cough, some suction sounds, and then the crying, the most precious cry I've ever heard in my life, and boy was he loud.

Pam said: he's got some lungs!! And she took the camcorder to video tape him. He was taken to the incubator, where he was cleaned and tagged with bracelets, his foot prints were stamped on his birth certificate, they put a small baby cap on his head and wrapped him with a blanket.

All that time I was saying: what's his score? and nobody understood what I wanted to say. Then I said there's a score given to newborns, what's his? Wendy, the doctor's nurse said: Oh you mean his Apgar Score? I said yes. they said it was 9. And 9 was great.

Soon after they brought him to me and he was crying, they laid him on my chest and I said: esh ya mama? "what is it mama?" He recognized my voice. He went quite and looked at me with the darkest eyes I've ever seen on a baby.

A while after he started crying again and they took him to the nursery.

Meantime, Pam goes and tells my husband the good news. She says: Congratulations, You're a father. My husband stands up and he's so confused he goes to the opposite way of the nursery. He then goes back and he's running while a nurse tries to stop him to put the ID bracelet on him, but he was just out of focus.

Husband goes inside the nursery. And boom he starts talking without stopping: How much does he weigh? Is he OK? Are you gonna bathe him? Can you teach me how to put a diaper on him? He turns to one nurse and he says: hey, I know you! LOL, we have all that on tape daddy. All of it.

Sadly, at the nursery Firas was diagnosed with RSD, and he was taken to the NICU.

But thanks God, ten days after our bundle of Joy came home with us, fully recovered.

Dear God, I can't thank you enough for your uncountable blessings, I hope I'll be a good mother to Firas, teach him right from wrong, and to have faith in your mercy.

Happy birthday son, and many many happy returns .

Inspired by the Presidential Elections

2008-11-05T08:47:00.001-06:00

Hint: Check the writing on the onesie (^__^)

We Taught Him a New Trick

2008-11-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

Firas's new trick goes likes this:
I would say: ween el wa7sh? "where's the monster?"
He would answer: 3aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa or AAAAAAAAAAAAAh
he wakes up saying 3aaaaaaaaaaa now

A Caterpillar

2008-10-31T09:20:00.001-05:00

Firas went today to the daycare as a caterpillar, everyone there liked that.

And he took his first steps yesterday at the daycare too, I missed that, but I'll be sure to videotape him once he does it again.

A New Milestone

2008-10-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

Firas started clapping his hands yesterday. I think this is a new trick at least, maybe not a true milestone. It's strange because he did it on his own. I didn't teach him that.

New Little Brother/Sister Pictures

2008-10-21T15:29:00.000-05:00

Here

I tried telling Firas that there's a baby in mama's belly, I would point at it and say bobo. He looks at me and smiles.

I doubt that he'll be jealous, he's not the type, but we won't know before another 6 months.

Daycare Places

2008-10-16T14:44:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Firas came home and was acting a bit off, I tried to feed him he ate few spoons and started crying, he didn't want to sit in his high chair. I tried different type of food, but no use.

He then started crying for no reason and once I held him he turned around and slept, at 5 PM, not his usual nap time.

I went to put him in bed and right then I noticed two bruises on the bottom of his chin. I was so angry I almost grabbed my stuff and went back to the daycare, but because Firas was sleeping I couldn't.

He slept and slept, while I grew more worried, at 7 PM I gave him a bottle, he drank the whole 6 ounces while sleeping, at nine I tryed waking him up he refused, I checked his pupils' dilation to make sure there is no head injury and he was responsive.

He slept till 6 AM this morning, woke up happy and smiling and had some cereal before getting ready.

So we take him to the day care and I ask about the bruises, the woman working there says I don't know, I wanted to ask more but I knew it was useless.

I think what happened with Firas is that they tried making him walk, which I insisted on them not to do, they used this walker as the one in the picture below and he fell right on his chin.

And that's what caused the bruises.

So, I've been adamant about letting him do stuff according to his own timing. I told them that I don't want him to use walkers. But I feel that they want to move him to toddlers class the minute he turns one year old, which I totally refuse.

I felt bad yesterday, and still feel bad about it today, I didn't put him there to get hurt.

What should I do?

Pictures Pictures & More Pictures

2008-10-15T12:12:00.001-05:00

baffled about something.

Playing with his horse

Caught in the act

In the zoo's stroller in Washington

Forgot 2 Say

2008-10-13T16:02:00.000-05:00

He's got another pearl.
Firas's second tooth came out on Friday and now he's got two lower teeth, no upper ones yet, and guess what?
We brush them once a day, lol.

2 Spoil Or Not 2 Spoil

2008-10-13T12:21:00.000-05:00

When can you consider a child spoiled? before he/she is one year old? between 1 & 2?
I read somewhere that a child is considered to be spoiled after he/she is more than three years old, which brings me to my point here.

In a forum I used to follow, I see a lot the advice "la t3awdi ebnek 3al 7amel" which means don't let your baby get used to being carried around. I got this advice from my mom and my in-laws too.

My overly romantic thinking "Gosh he's only this young this amount of time, and I want him to spend every possible moment between my arms".

I hold Firas, sometimes even while he sleeps, just to feel him between my arms.

He's not used to being held by any means, and even if he is, it's a win-win situation since I love holding him.

I'm three months pregnant and I asked my doctor about carrying my 18 lbs of pure cuteness, he said it's not about carrying him, it's about the way, just make sure you do it the right way.

Life has taught me not to take any thing for granted, and I don't want to regret not spending time with Firas or not hugging him enough, I wanna be able to look back at these days and smile, be happy and content with how much I held him, how I showered him with my love.

maybe I'm going all hormonal now, but tell me, can you resist holding your son and daughter while he or she cry? If you can, you're really tough.
I promise you your love will only bring back love, holding him when he needs it or when you need it "you too mothers need it" won't spoil him, holding Firas taught him to hold me back and now Firas can hug, he learned how to hug at 9 months old.

I don't know if it's just me or others think the same, but my culture does not encourage mothers to show affection to their babies.

In Africa, mothers practically wear their babies, with the help of a big piece of cloth, a friend told me that they don't diaper their babies, they train themselves on knowing when exactly he or she will let go, they master this by the fourth month, can you imagine this??!!!

I wanna clear something before I end this post, I don't doubt the amount of love a mother holds to her child, regardless of her cultural background, I just disapprove of advice that tells moms not show their love to their babies, that's just it.

Today is Monday and I sooooooooooo miss Firas.

The Fighting Game

2008-10-10T15:39:00.000-05:00

Firas has started doing the funniest thing ever.

He looks at a certain direction and starts screaming and yelling like he's scolding some invisible baby or toy. It's so funny because the look on his face is so serious and he appears to be angry and when I crack up at him he looks at me and smiles and then goes back to yelling Da! Da Da Da ! Dadadada !

My Heart Skipped a Beat

2008-10-09T12:48:00.000-05:00

The other day it was raining heavily, my husband was supposed to pick Firas from the daycare. I reached home before him and I stood outside waiting with a big umbrella.
When he cam he took his time, He opened up a small umbrella, he unfastened Firas's carseat belt, and then he held him tight, so tight so that he wouldn't get wet.
Watching my two men that way then made my heart skip a beat.

I can't even say how much I love you both.

Humidity & Humidifiers, advise please?

2008-10-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

Firas has been waking up lately with a dry nose, very dry nose.

He would be making sounds to indicate he can't breathe well from his nose and he's breathing through his mouth.

Last night I filled the tank of his humidifier and switched it on all night, he woke up breathing easy.

I'm not sure about using the humidifier, because it's supposed to be humid, very humid in New Orleans, that's one thing.

The other thing is Firas had breathing problems when he was born, afterwards he recovered 100%, considering the fact that my family has a genetic disposition to Asthma, I don't want to add a proper environment for it with Firas.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Long Time No Picture

2008-10-07T12:55:00.000-05:00

here's an old one but Firas's hair in it looks exactly like a troll's hair

Check My (Brother/Sister)'s First Ultrasound Picture

2008-10-06T12:24:00.000-05:00

Here

I bit my dad on Saturday

2008-10-06T09:25:00.000-05:00

With my first tooth.

Yessssss, Finally Firas has his first pearl growing, it's the left bottom tooth just like the baby in the picture.

I felt it but it's really hard to see it.

I'm so happy. I thought it will take some more time.

We should tell the daycare so that they stop allowing him to kiss the girls, I don't think he knows how to kiss without biting.

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey

The Flu Shot

2008-09-30T14:43:00.000-05:00

Firas got his flu shot today...
What annoys me about these shots is that once we are in the exam room and I lay him flat on his back he starts playing and waving his hands with a smile. Then, at the very unexpected moment, the nurse stabs him with the needle and he cries with tears.

Firas got some new nick names, my friend Davika called him "Bogli" an Indian term of endearment that means cutie. At the day care they call him "russi russi" just like a teddy bear, and the nurse called him "Curly locks", I like this the best.
And I'm keeping the hair no matter what.

To Firas From Mama

2008-09-29T15:21:00.000-05:00

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)