January 2019 brought us a sad ending to the life of your last Great-Grandparent, Doña Lyda. She passed away on January 30th, 2019.

December 2018 was a weird month because midway through our Disney Birthday Vacation and after, you and dad got sick as dogs with the flu. You kept on saying that you were not going to get better and for your 8th birthday you had just gotten back your tastebuds. We got back on the 18th and for my birthday I was running around getting you guys meds and taking care of you both. It was nuts but somehow we made it through.

As the month progressed we worked on getting you back on track with homeschooling. We did visit Doña Lydia and Tio and they gave you tons of Christmas, Birthday, and Three Kings presents. And then one morning Tio Tito called your dad who had had a bad night and couldn’t sleep. Apparently while your dad was feeling sick, your Abuelita Lydia was dying.

That morning we rented a car, told you what happened, and drove to Ponce for the next three-four days to be with Tio who was so upset. Imagine living with your mom for 71 years and not having a family of your own to lean on? Earlier in January we had decided to visit your Tio Javi for February and spend some days at the Casino in Foxwoods. We did have some fun but also had to deal with your Grandma Sylvette’s health issues. I actually saw a snow fall for the first time in over 13 years in February and we actually had to stay longer in CT than planned. You started getting nervous before getting on the plane upon our trip back and then you and Dad got sick again. So between December and February you and Dad were my patients and I was losing my wits end.

Somehow we managed to get through the rest of the month of February and on to March.

Here is Daniela’s latest comic based on real-life experiences of her annoyance when a pair of pigeons decided to make a nest in the window. We would hear the pigeons in the morning and she decided to make a comic about her experience as an 8 year old trying to sleep.

Super D. and the Evil Bird!Click to read this book, made with Book Creatorhttps://read.bookcreator.com

Your first e-book

Me and my dogClick to read this book, made with Book Creatorhttps://read.bookcreator.com

I found an application that allows you to upload or draw pictures for World Book Day. So you created a story about your dog, Juanga. You’ve become so good at creating stories out of thin air and you loving drawing. You even told me that you don’t like imitating other people’s artwork when we learn about them. You sounded out most of the words with some help from me but you wrote them on your own.

Hey Daniela,

This year has been one with ups and downs. We started the year toasting champagne and sparkling apple cider for you.

We were luck to have electricity to ring in the new year. not many people could say that because electricity for most of the island including vieques and culebra didn’t come back up until july just two months shy of Hurricane Maria’s anniversary.

We had clients leave us but obtained new ones and dad worked his butt off to make sure you had clothes on your back, a roof, and food on the table.

He worked so hard he made your dreams come true about going to Disney and we did in September.

You swam so much on vacation that the lifeguards at the hotel French Quarter were impressed.

I was walking lots in the beginning of the year by myself and with you at times sometimes all three of us went to Old San Juan.

But I got hurt in July shin splints and thought I was going to have to get a wheelchair for vacation. Thanks to you and dad, I was able to go and by the time vacation was done, I had no shin splints. You made me exercise in the pool too.

Just know that through all the hard times, I love you. And eventhough Dad and I argue, we love eachother very much. So much that we have been together 14 years. and the best seven soon to be eight have been because of you.

You are the best thing that has ever happened to us and to me especially because I didn’t see any kids in my future.

But you are a mixture of Mom and Dad, sweet, empathetic, tough, fair, firm, and you won’t back down.

Just know that when it comes time for you to pick a person to love, that they should love your positive and negative faults. All of you just like your dad loves all of my faults.

I know I have been lazy with writing month to month but just know that I love you all the same. Take care of Dad and Juanga if anything should happen to me. Go on adventures with your Dad, travel often and enjoy yourself. Never stop for anyone. Always question people and don’t take no for an answer. eventually, someone will say yes.

Listen to your dad because he is a smart man and only wants what is best for you. Reach out to my friends like Jessy and Maritza and Iris. They love you too and Titi Veronica of course.

I love you my, Chuchi