tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85925123381923091972024-02-07T01:09:10.733-08:00Luz Marinaluzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-66300563049286016782016-09-10T14:28:00.000-07:002016-09-14T14:33:02.863-07:00Happy 13th Birthday, Luz! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After feeding the baby (birthday gift, Luz loves "babies")... a big cuddle!</div>
luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-88283387816256122462014-11-14T14:10:00.000-08:002016-09-14T14:35:05.614-07:00Luz, November 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ572vm4zNUH2oeeyPGBIroTFL2lfF1mBMyS4gN6sUhfHNikQAVsNV6RV11fhadfBbZsHqVOULtapNLZrBStbkSdJ0lHx7_TdFGWALk5HskYUrDnb7Ub961ev94YK8S8hL_rG9p4vyi70/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-11+at+23.10.04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ572vm4zNUH2oeeyPGBIroTFL2lfF1mBMyS4gN6sUhfHNikQAVsNV6RV11fhadfBbZsHqVOULtapNLZrBStbkSdJ0lHx7_TdFGWALk5HskYUrDnb7Ub961ev94YK8S8hL_rG9p4vyi70/s320/Screen+Shot+2014-11-11+at+23.10.04.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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:-)</div>
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"Swift fly the years"</div>
luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-73129766865215513982009-07-31T15:00:00.000-07:002009-08-31T15:10:44.312-07:00new teeth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5-e7AVWDu62mi9ezqunmvx5tncsJkkfF9K70JwokEX16XCuV-aDyXItUsSxwwwVR5iTFiYEPAAHxxcVYe2rJEZ2YtGnYyu7dAvS_Ft5LfU4nmNDyyYFp_P1DdbZbwYEbLmVMC2zHat8/s1600-h/Picture+2(2).png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5-e7AVWDu62mi9ezqunmvx5tncsJkkfF9K70JwokEX16XCuV-aDyXItUsSxwwwVR5iTFiYEPAAHxxcVYe2rJEZ2YtGnYyu7dAvS_Ft5LfU4nmNDyyYFp_P1DdbZbwYEbLmVMC2zHat8/s320/Picture+2(2).png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376251727318286994" /></a><br />Luz started growing her upper front teeth a little before spring, now they are fully grown or so we hope, because they are quite big... but she looks gorgeous anyhow and what better for biting into those apples she likes so much!luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-64999110562582346012009-01-31T14:44:00.000-08:002009-08-31T14:48:47.042-07:00cats, always.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEiwCox3g3hcY1Dm1ULxsRkYsQSJq33j3Gke9NUKd3AR2Uk7g5WIoMX7fJzWhuUSTzhd2M95q7u_tbJj0NXVnalpAYEk5V1th6A95NICahQKCtwzV2MYhq6d9xOoCIdGQ4NwvKRdJ3Z8/s1600-h/Picture+7(2).png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEiwCox3g3hcY1Dm1ULxsRkYsQSJq33j3Gke9NUKd3AR2Uk7g5WIoMX7fJzWhuUSTzhd2M95q7u_tbJj0NXVnalpAYEk5V1th6A95NICahQKCtwzV2MYhq6d9xOoCIdGQ4NwvKRdJ3Z8/s320/Picture+7(2).png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376247704131883362" /></a><br />cats are still her one and only subject, but getting good at it!luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-61987983969416240662008-11-10T07:11:00.000-08:002008-11-10T07:26:19.680-08:00drawing!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQAmXX0q9GdqyPHxiLZtdesLDkZrdynXikGCsVernjD0r3QhMfpIgzNkakhbD0EXIithPqU1mUnyjwCwjl-oAB7q4lZbi75WCVrpmtflsEO8N_6ft8Lq1uB7s7AL0xnVdIOtOE54Qhcs/s1600-h/gatos.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQAmXX0q9GdqyPHxiLZtdesLDkZrdynXikGCsVernjD0r3QhMfpIgzNkakhbD0EXIithPqU1mUnyjwCwjl-oAB7q4lZbi75WCVrpmtflsEO8N_6ft8Lq1uB7s7AL0xnVdIOtOE54Qhcs/s200/gatos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267050439831683330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5hsl0FFTB91K71CXMpc3al4GcoLpBxYQSD4LSLtYu-VabdrZ2Wumdif5S_tY8EGvqZIvFhG569e64EMQZsdva0TESISu6nnCrBIr6FhD7Ya2OVsihEmg-UMP9fu6EyayEJHW2qBerCM/s1600-h/gato2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5hsl0FFTB91K71CXMpc3al4GcoLpBxYQSD4LSLtYu-VabdrZ2Wumdif5S_tY8EGvqZIvFhG569e64EMQZsdva0TESISu6nnCrBIr6FhD7Ya2OVsihEmg-UMP9fu6EyayEJHW2qBerCM/s200/gato2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267050428620684130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bigQac7YXnKjlGHWgprg-LQ_Zl0taLn0QQiBwysGIUvULeHLZzbkaGoBGWX6MO67BMimz3Om8Kk2prLpGk5HI9AXvehci4E0kRdmHq599goYa6gFLVH_5aq7ASFqfgtzi7wePpoirg0/s1600-h/gato1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bigQac7YXnKjlGHWgprg-LQ_Zl0taLn0QQiBwysGIUvULeHLZzbkaGoBGWX6MO67BMimz3Om8Kk2prLpGk5HI9AXvehci4E0kRdmHq599goYa6gFLVH_5aq7ASFqfgtzi7wePpoirg0/s200/gato1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267050426357120610" /></a><br /><br />This is so exciting for us!<br />Luz has been drawing cats for a week now, but we've been drawing cats for her for a lot longer than that. She loves it when we do it, and now she's having a go too! (she's a cat fan). When I draw a cat I say as I'm drawing "This are the ears, and these are the eyes, and here is the nose..." etc. I draw the head and ears with one stroke, and this is what she tries to reproduce, as you can see from the pictures. Also, if we draw the head and no body, she will add the body herself!luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-29293628033975487962008-08-01T14:52:00.000-07:002009-08-31T14:56:13.268-07:00teeth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQXEmzhKhRe8TTKBysxw73c9RTq2lNKkuGxUlA1slET4BCKTHCCjWC-mmXx0GZIJT39c82S18wKfd90BoH-PdmepllxZqnMJBoRmztycJWuOTrkwR6986MgZSpGJn0bFGEbdHKl3f2vI/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQXEmzhKhRe8TTKBysxw73c9RTq2lNKkuGxUlA1slET4BCKTHCCjWC-mmXx0GZIJT39c82S18wKfd90BoH-PdmepllxZqnMJBoRmztycJWuOTrkwR6986MgZSpGJn0bFGEbdHKl3f2vI/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376249510877988978" /></a><br />Luz has lost 3 teeth this summer!<br />A bit early for she's not even 5 yet...luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-38938650041143110342008-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:002008-07-27T07:30:25.230-07:00still pedaling!going faster, but no steering...<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxrnDiJP7eI-Vc3KtbEvjf-otOk4HbQyBfVdnyfDglpan0Rh9QkCes2yUUo19Zw-ZdPaBwXA4W23I5Yz_uqdw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-45682985659412623942008-06-16T06:15:00.000-07:002008-07-27T07:38:52.383-07:00pedaling!!!it's slow but steady right now, and no steering yet... but she's pedaling!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxGlHcKCC9Ss_p7Yi4vyvcCuv8qdgBxiXRQ3H0gl2f2mDE-MymDAmF7W-857HQJ4ozj4owNlimpmJADJmZXsw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-77494847672882085742008-02-23T05:51:00.000-08:002008-12-11T11:55:06.134-08:00colours!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA7wNWWPh0KgD3JbD67TAE-uY7EgjOK1-RIjwvaYFBItkLZUW157gn7E6g4RJdXps_o61HOerswwCLHIEgC0hn8nA8cthdPN4N4wpem_0sIHzZvwMAS_IKR7M4flOX0nmtk_4txME8Z8/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA7wNWWPh0KgD3JbD67TAE-uY7EgjOK1-RIjwvaYFBItkLZUW157gn7E6g4RJdXps_o61HOerswwCLHIEgC0hn8nA8cthdPN4N4wpem_0sIHzZvwMAS_IKR7M4flOX0nmtk_4txME8Z8/s400/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227680876516273538" /></a><br />Luz has surprised us last week with her little game of coloured pegs. Initially I bought it to practice fine motor skills, since we have tried to show her colours before and she didn't seem to be ready yet. But one day she just started choosing the blue pegs and only when she was running out of blue did she choose some other colours, but then mainly light blue and green... we were very impressed! she continued with this the next day and that's it... she's never done it again... mysterious children!luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-47629416031271127362008-01-01T13:19:00.000-08:002008-01-01T13:33:59.724-08:00more puzzle<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwUkXcRiWVMS3e6j67Z6uq3YxT6qWXx51Hj0WK7SKM5eGw0xKnao4xuAS8ZmP5nG-YHy0uBcoF8bYzKWsclqA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Luz is now aware that completing the puzzle is something to be proud of!luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-31491310040493293932007-12-31T06:36:00.000-08:002008-01-01T03:20:48.577-08:00champion!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxIjP3SU7GvEvRtJ1Ck4BDLkuBpG-IGS3IHy5NUlTWXJ467kNLIV0GTrLg1c-_1qd4etmNL3o0hU2hIZCIE2g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Zöe is a super nursery nurse that used to work with Luz on home visits when we lived in England. She used to bring with her a lot of different toys some of which became Luz's favourites. Favourite <span style="font-weight:bold;">number one</span> was "cookie puzzle". She liked it so much that we decided to use it for her first "computer game"... Luz loves computers but working out the mouse was an obstacle. So two months ago we finally got her a touchscreen and Roberto started creating little softwares for her. The first had to be the cookies, we had that idea waiting for sometime. We started using "backward chaining" with it about a month ago but we had never seen her actually fit any of the pieces without prompting... until today! <span style="font-weight:bold;">She just fitted all of them!</span> I was so surprised!... She loves to move things around on the screen so until today I thought she was just concentrated on this little pleasure, without really caring where the objects where moving to.luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-67912090923973873492007-12-21T06:23:00.000-08:002008-01-01T03:23:04.027-08:00sleep, or lack of...For several months now, Luz has been sleeping more irregularly than usual. Waking up several times, sometimes crying unconsolably, sometimes going back to sleep right away, once we've come to her to snug her back to bed (she will otherwise stay sitting up, waiting for us).A couple of weeks ago we started treatment with melatonin. For the moment, this helps her to fall a sleep at a decent time, but she's still waking up several times per night (ranging from twice a night, on rare occasions, to six times a night... not so rare).<br />Mom and Dad are quite tired by now, and she seems undisturbed!luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-66170858902015693712007-10-12T13:37:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:06.361-08:00paris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABSzhyphenhyphenHrn7WPliwr_tTkDVytGlqeOy-77AtHeZ6VSbp0Ssa9k4JHrFnyi2HmUox5NHAPqEB5eHOkUeVwg3UKwtlcXODXZ8G7j8-KQxE7otxgAdZgJUpURe9rSTd4RVdAmDK4nR9Uo4rY/s1600-h/Picture+11.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABSzhyphenhyphenHrn7WPliwr_tTkDVytGlqeOy-77AtHeZ6VSbp0Ssa9k4JHrFnyi2HmUox5NHAPqEB5eHOkUeVwg3UKwtlcXODXZ8G7j8-KQxE7otxgAdZgJUpURe9rSTd4RVdAmDK4nR9Uo4rY/s320/Picture+11.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131705971733776466" /></a><br />Settling back in Paris hasn't been easy. The main issue is education. We haven't found anything adapted for her. At the moment she's going to a "Halte Garderie" were everybody is nice and caring but the place is tiny and we don't feel it's the kind of structure that will help Luz make much progress.<br />Then there's outdoor activities which she's missing a lot. At the beginning we took Luz to a park with a great sand pit which she enjoys a lot, but as the weather is turning cold and wet we haven't been going as much, and she's clearly needing more outings.luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-38441029861643036582007-08-26T01:41:00.001-07:002007-11-11T14:17:17.532-08:00Pelota<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwaIufPs8-MQRTQY6C7XdhtwDNGA_0BtdON7LiJyJpbitQUGYWMpKxrVZcoL89pMR0UvtVa4ju9Vx61tjs4Lw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Luz just loves to play ball.luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-91643626249595540692007-07-28T15:42:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:06.617-08:00shoes and stickers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzqFHQF4IYAuR57U-LEDNyKVx8A3JkUs2d0Sykt19yrBn4e-saUXIm2b0D7Js_20vUiW1LAc8vvljsISzVjxNh2uFl70F7lwgWJz0lxFdDvxetbfQPz_2PXacsHnEX8UMdo-CJB82CwM/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzqFHQF4IYAuR57U-LEDNyKVx8A3JkUs2d0Sykt19yrBn4e-saUXIm2b0D7Js_20vUiW1LAc8vvljsISzVjxNh2uFl70F7lwgWJz0lxFdDvxetbfQPz_2PXacsHnEX8UMdo-CJB82CwM/s320/Picture+7.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102926957611490066" /></a><br />Luz has been very interested in putting her shoes on lately, she mantains her balance quite well while doing so. Of course she mixes left and right half of the time but she is obviously happy to be able to do it. She will try on any shoe that crosses her path. The other thing she's recently taken pleasure with is stickers. At her nursery children would be often rewarded with one (star shaped) and I had, up to now, thought Luz wasn't interested, but just few days ago she picked up a yellow star her brother had cut from a piece of paper and she gave it to me showing that she wanted me to stick it on her. "you are a star!" I told her as they would say at her nursery whenever a child was "awarded" a star sticker... and did my best to tangle the star clipping in a fold on her dress. She was very proud of herself (and so was I... so happy she could relate her brother's cut-out with the nursery's star stickers!).luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-55502972970526812942007-07-25T15:28:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:06.805-08:00signing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiB9mFrH1ooaQgFsKv7A3-H6-Ca3FVLOaRJeNs2Dk9rN6_3JnBsloy05MVn-4bpR2LBRpFn0RFzH3jI6q6b9lHppYRqDm4-jINRHkHeECPiqPWhVysleiajRjTvifHKM4J7587HUPcI0/s1600-h/Picture+6.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiB9mFrH1ooaQgFsKv7A3-H6-Ca3FVLOaRJeNs2Dk9rN6_3JnBsloy05MVn-4bpR2LBRpFn0RFzH3jI6q6b9lHppYRqDm4-jINRHkHeECPiqPWhVysleiajRjTvifHKM4J7587HUPcI0/s320/Picture+6.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102927666281093922" /></a><br />Luz started signing again, after almost a year of havng stopped she "recovered" the sign for <span style="font-weight:bold;">more</span> following her very first sign for bottle (milk, actually). As if asking for her bottle and seeing our reaction triggered something that brought the other sign back. So she's using two signs now, though she will sometimes just sign for milk because she wants something, even if it's not related to her drink (and there goes the guessing game)luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-63132341837099798352007-06-12T02:43:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:06.936-08:00sleep<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9-mcP1KoROPLFKo4lFidEXoCnL2lLmddXRU78-drfTRwEW80Ktlriesimu_rp3SkcSMnW7Cj31Eh6mk9yHO-rdOYkHcsT20NeziZ_MgLJ5pv7N_Yy1WbY6W1An3zXEjDbamWE81G330/s1600-h/Picture+6.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9-mcP1KoROPLFKo4lFidEXoCnL2lLmddXRU78-drfTRwEW80Ktlriesimu_rp3SkcSMnW7Cj31Eh6mk9yHO-rdOYkHcsT20NeziZ_MgLJ5pv7N_Yy1WbY6W1An3zXEjDbamWE81G330/s320/Picture+6.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086294959952036114" border="0" /></a><br />A couple of months ago Luz went through a long period of very very bad sleep. She would wake up in the middle of the night and stay awake for hours. This pattern went on for about six weeks and it didn't seem to disturb her. Mum and Dad were, on the contrary, forgetting things and bumping into everything, totally exhausted. It went as it came, with no obvious sign of any external factor that would give us a clue as why she wasn't sleeping. Dad has been doing some research and found some interesting things about melatonin related to sleep regulation. It seems children with Luz's chromosome anomaly (and also children with autism) commonly suffer from sleep disorders and many have benefited by taking supplements of melatonin. We haven't tried it but we'll give it a thought if Luz goes through another terrible sleeping spell (it's natural and has no side effects).<br /><br />Link<br />"Melatonin, the sleep master" http://www.autism.org/melatonin.htmlluzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-40510173852335255802007-05-11T16:42:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:07.084-08:00shadows and reflections<span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLCfFCMAzJxXOxm4dMwgMFQAPKIqkJr6oPOpZL9u9pFpPNEWspY2xQxPGskcMSbvfnwNzNQrx6YGxBlSO9gvbgxwDuEV2YlaLeSjQFtjBmwlIZpZ1q5cUT_hSU3bXBjnCa1-R4gqGIZo/s1600-h/Picture+21.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLCfFCMAzJxXOxm4dMwgMFQAPKIqkJr6oPOpZL9u9pFpPNEWspY2xQxPGskcMSbvfnwNzNQrx6YGxBlSO9gvbgxwDuEV2YlaLeSjQFtjBmwlIZpZ1q5cUT_hSU3bXBjnCa1-R4gqGIZo/s320/Picture+21.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063456164304735010" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;">Luz has always been captivated by her own reflection. Any shiny surface will do. She has a plastic mirror at her level and she will continuously bring objects in front of it to have a look of herself with them. Or calmly take position and watch herself munching an apple. And when we're lucky to have a sunny day... she'll have a go at playing with her shadow... she'll get all excited when someone comes to join in the shadow projection show. But try to go for a walk with the sun in front of you... she'll turn around to walk in the opposite direction, looking at her shadow of course... you wanted to go somewhere else? are you in a hurry? you'll have to wish for a cloud!<br /><br /></span>luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-44242707303380554852007-04-09T08:27:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:07.358-08:00circles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjlxjoUD_V1tNleYw2tfCmdSUMDBRxflAzoNbimg7Q3X465SlgFDrSMOBnjLnQvHmIfA6IgoBgK4QL9lmb64JxZLMyNOwkogfdRBpZhL-vbb0bNXSiziNkqF1NNT6FfR-qn3_9TpYABY/s1600-h/Picture+13.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjlxjoUD_V1tNleYw2tfCmdSUMDBRxflAzoNbimg7Q3X465SlgFDrSMOBnjLnQvHmIfA6IgoBgK4QL9lmb64JxZLMyNOwkogfdRBpZhL-vbb0bNXSiziNkqF1NNT6FfR-qn3_9TpYABY/s200/Picture+13.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051454107165118434" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1M3y3nOnvSfPqPnHSzQwGpohZCCldATQxeSdoXQMXKq7RF3rQTDddshWHI-TPI04yuM14rOLdQZkKp5mSBgRRBzhxvH911UpJnvEmvJB5xins6py86HqcuQGkpym4cFUInj8wT5B3rc/s1600-h/circulito.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1M3y3nOnvSfPqPnHSzQwGpohZCCldATQxeSdoXQMXKq7RF3rQTDddshWHI-TPI04yuM14rOLdQZkKp5mSBgRRBzhxvH911UpJnvEmvJB5xins6py86HqcuQGkpym4cFUInj8wT5B3rc/s320/circulito.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051451998336176082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We are very happy to announce Luz is drawing circles!</span></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">it started only two weeks ago; Luz was scribbling and I took her hand and showed her she could make circles. This highly interested her, she started to ask us (body language) to hold the pen with her to make more circles. She was very concentrated whenever we held her hand to do it, and she would move her arm to change where the circle would be drawn on the paper. Eventually she started participating in the movement required, enough for her father to slowly let go of her hand until he was barely touching her; and yesterday she drew these magnificent circles all on her own!</span></span>luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-59650901365770176162007-03-23T14:42:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:07.487-08:00pinching?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR_QCwssfLr1i3T210V8w9kgeJgATpxkkDDb9FUwHBLcakYVIedVftUjJJs8YR3SLQiT2l96AwSAyF2Y05GtHfN_NMKWFn4ssfZggkY0Gtez13uQf5zXmya037-nVlrw4AMbaZf_Ub4A/s1600-h/Picture+12.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR_QCwssfLr1i3T210V8w9kgeJgATpxkkDDb9FUwHBLcakYVIedVftUjJJs8YR3SLQiT2l96AwSAyF2Y05GtHfN_NMKWFn4ssfZggkY0Gtez13uQf5zXmya037-nVlrw4AMbaZf_Ub4A/s320/Picture+12.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045242970935784130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-size:85%;" >The picture shows Luz delicately (and dreamily) pinching her aunt's thigh, while having a rest and a cuddle on her lap. She used to gently pinch somebody's cheek if approached closely, but as a sign of affection, really, because if she wasn't interested she'd just push you away. Over the past month or so, she has gradually stopped "pinching" and passed to hair stroking and picking on some strands as if to look and feel them (sometimes pulling a little in spite of her friendly intentions).She particularly likes to stroke her brother's hair and though he's not always willing, he does enjoy the new attention. </span>luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-21933706410604952022007-03-16T13:13:00.000-07:002008-12-11T11:55:07.924-08:00bubbles, mum!<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVcTzM4BMiQQWGMxPZ8P6TCt2NTrHWKqlOZSt8wcGF4qddoyoCgla-d9rkhj-Cr1gmCEkeix7vvgKxI4h_FKmA1l37t2YM8q9BWfBWLtEFu67W7QQVsHr9LDf14n4PiiURqZO0zrCWGY/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVcTzM4BMiQQWGMxPZ8P6TCt2NTrHWKqlOZSt8wcGF4qddoyoCgla-d9rkhj-Cr1gmCEkeix7vvgKxI4h_FKmA1l37t2YM8q9BWfBWLtEFu67W7QQVsHr9LDf14n4PiiURqZO0zrCWGY/s320/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042625285205141874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Luz has some picture cards on a magnetic board.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The board has the same pictures than those on the cards so you always put each picture card on the matching picture on the board.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Luz uses these cards to ask for the object pictured. She will take a card and give it to an adult.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">This is known as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">She never points to one of the pictures on the board simply because she doesn't point (yet).</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">There are usually three cards on our board, with their matching pictures.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Well today, quite in coherence with the chaos all around the house, none of the picture cards where on their place. Actually, I was trying to tidy up when Luz took my hand and pulled me towards the picture board. She aproached my hand to the bubble bottle picture AND<span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">she neatly placed her index finger on the bubble picture she was showing me.</span><br />This is the first time she has so clearly indicated something with her finger. She soon repeated the action when the bubbles stopped and she couldn't see the bubble bottle anywhere (I had hidden it)... she just needed a little prompting. Since I new she wanted more, I took her to the board and asked <span style="font-style: italic;">"¿cual?"</span> (which one?) and she answered by touching the bubble picture again! Luz really loves bubbles. Things she likes so much can be part of our tools for communication.</span><br /><br /></span>luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592512338192309197.post-79045881801322994412007-01-05T02:56:00.000-08:002008-12-11T11:55:08.092-08:00summary: birth to 3y<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgvwBmX_Rd8-Ac97pFRXMR5HBcXAgsjzCUUM3-jMRtN8b6izzQlmivHKGeJzJe3Hazjs-59W0WPlfkXTrksJydWrsmftbiiy-cavkRPxK02zJq9cXGRDRpGgrvmXGnmCHXCkYC1N6vyw/s1600-h/runeun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgvwBmX_Rd8-Ac97pFRXMR5HBcXAgsjzCUUM3-jMRtN8b6izzQlmivHKGeJzJe3Hazjs-59W0WPlfkXTrksJydWrsmftbiiy-cavkRPxK02zJq9cXGRDRpGgrvmXGnmCHXCkYC1N6vyw/s320/runeun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017005420154026514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Luz Marina is three years old since September last year, that makes 3 years and 4 months next week.<br />We have a diagnosis since past summer, but we thought there might be something troubling her since her first months when she would cry non stop, then suspected some motor delay around six months and then <span style="font-style: italic;">strongly suspected</span> a problem towards her first birthday. Around that time Luz was not very curious, didn't make much eye contact, did not react to her name, made very few sounds and was still behind in her motor skills. Of course she was lovely and we always managed to make her laugh and giggle and sometimes she </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >just </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">seemed lazy and </span>layed<span style="font-size:100%;"> back but we couldn't stop telling ourselves that she was different in a more literal way.<br /><br />So in </span>January<span style="font-size:100%;"> 2005 we managed to get an appointment with a neurologist and a </span>pediatrician<span style="font-size:100%;"> in a specialised centre in Paris were we lived at that time. Since then it has been appointments with different </span>professionals<span style="font-size:100%;"> non-stop. <span style="font-size:130%;">But also a lot of progress</span>. Luz started to give her first steps a bit before her second birthday, to walk short distances a bit after her birthday and to walk confidently about 2y 6m. No running yet, but very quick walking. Luz is able to climb the steps to her mini slide, and manages to coordinate all the movements necessary to sit and slide. She is doing so since the month before her third birthday. At the same time she's started to climb onto the couch unaided and best of all: to spoon feed herself. Not long after starting school at Merrivale Nursery Luz started to go up and down stairs on her own, either holding the handrail or placing her hand on the wall. She does this with a lot of caution, but very sure of herself at the same time.<br /><br />Luz has no verbal language. She makes few sounds, mostly vowels with few consonants. She used to sign for more (makaton) but has stopped for the moment. She has her own way of signing for a request, that is tilting her head while pulling someone's hand to it, or to the thing she's requesting or both (first her head, then the object). She is also able to ask things by means of picture exchange, though this is not generalised yet. </span><br /><br /><br /></span>luzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665730442003035011noreply@blogger.com5