Christmas at the Hernandez

Blood is thicker than water.

No matter how far they live from one another, no matter how long it has been since they last saw each other, every time they meet is like they’ve never been apart.

The miracle of life.

Life is a miracle. Every time I hear somebody is pregnant I get a tingly sensation in my stomach. To me having a child is the most amazing feeling in the world. Knowing that inside of you is growing a tiny little thing that is the product of the love you share with that special person is overwhelming. Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing your baby’s face for the first time.

Imagine how happy I was when I find out my cousin was pregnant. It was like I was pregnant too.

I was jumping up and down when she told me.
Things weren’t really easy for her and the baby decided to come before his time.

I went to the hospital, where she stayed during two weeks, around 11 at night that day and we all waited nervously to see what was going to happen. It was an intense moment, standing outside her door, everybody secretly praying that everything came out good. She was screaming from the top of her lungs, and every time she did we felt helpless. I would never forget the moment we heard the doctor's last command: “PUSH!!!”. It was the longest 5 seconds of my life. She screamed and in silence holding hands we all waited trying to hear the baby cry. It took forever, but there it was, that amazing sound that brought us all back to life. He was 3 months early and only 3 pounds heavy, but he was beautiful, healthy and full of life. Andres is a gift send from God (express delivery thou).

Ancient History

Living in Egypt for a year was one of those things that if somebody would’ve predicted it I would have never believed it. It took a lot of courage moving to an Arab country with all the misconceptions formed after September 11, 2006. I moved across the world, literally, from Dominican Republic all the way to Cairo, completely by myself. I remember standing alone in my hotel room, looking at the Egyptian sunset though out the wide window. Everything looked the same color. The oranges of the sky blended perfectly with the sand colored buildings. The peace of the landscape was interrupted by the chanting coming from the mosque loud speakers telling the Egyptians it was time to pray. I cried like a little girl on the first day of school wondering what the heck was I doing there?!


It turned out living there wasn’t so bad after all. It was one of the best years of my life. I made good friends; found and lost love again; made myself proud by overcoming my fear and scuba dove the Blue Hole on the Red Sea. I saw the stars on a moonless night in the middle of the desert; bathe in the Mediterranean; sat in a café from where I could see Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Rode a camel and a horse around the pyramids; sailed on a falluca across the Nile; descended to the ground to discover ancient treasures on the Valley of the Kings; saw mommies thousands of years old; took belly dance lessons; learn a little Arabic; went inside Keops’ Pyramid (found nothing but dust) and partied with ambassadors from more than 20 countries.

When it was time to go back home, I cried even harder than before thinking of everything I was going to leave behind.

Egyptian BMW

Valley of the Kings

Alexandria

Siani

Egyptian Museum