A big welcome & hello to those who are checking in after receiving Rocco's birth announcement! I wish I had some pics to post, but this busy mom has misplaced the camera cable to download pictures. :( St. Anthony, pray for us!

Rocco is growing so quickly! At his 2-week appointment, he has exceeded his birth weight. The kid is a good eater!

Blaise (3) is loving being a big brother. He's very protective of Rocco. And when Rocco sneezes, we crack up at sweet Blaise saying, "Beshoo, Baby Wocco." It melts our hearts!

KK is turning 6 on Monday. I went to her classroom this week, and this crazy girl was dancing the robot during an ABC song! Last week was a big week, because she lost her first 2 teeth! That Tooth Fairy pays big these days. She got $5 for her 1st tooth! Inflation, I tell ya.

Sebastian is always making us proud at school, socially and academically. :) And this year is a big year for him too in that he's preparing for his 1st Communion! How time flies!

We have much to be thankful for, and hope the same for each of you. Happy fall!

P.S. Still no word on the outcome of Jorge's big job interview. Maybe this week!

We have a new baby! His little face just melts each of our hearts to pieces. Many have asked, "How are the older kids adjusting?" The answer is that they are crazy about him! The biggest issue we have is that there is such a thing as too much kissing on Baby! :)

Week One, we even got plenty of rest as "new" parents. However, last night was our first tough night. Rocco seemed more restless, and stayed awake longer between feedings. *yawn* I feel partially responsible, because my diet was terrible yesterday. How easily I forget that my choices affect him. :O

Delivery was a remarkable experience! So many people are so fearful of the risks associated with multiple C-sections, but God was in control. The baby is healthy & my doctor said that everything "in there" looked GREAT! There was minimal scar tissue, etc. The recovery was fantastic too. The 2nd day, I took a shower, put on some make-up, got dressed, and was walking around. I felt fine... or at least better than I did after C-section #1. :) We are on cloud 9, even amidst the sleep deprivation & uncertainties about what the rest of the year holds. This child is sheer blessing.

By the way, Jorge's interview went really well. Thank you for the prayers. We thought it was almost over, but the school called him on Friday and said, "Ok, we've narrowed it down to 2 people. Can you come back for a last interview on Sept. 15?" I'm glad they are taking this process seriously and pray that the right candidate gets the job. :-) Keep the prayers coming!

This week is like my belly... BIG, BIG, BIG.

It's been challenging to get into the routine of waking the family up early to get ready for school, but we're making it & enjoying it. And if that weren't enough to adjust to...

I started a new, full-time job teaching at the university on Monday. Thanks to God, my classes are between 9:00-12:00 every day, and maintian mommy-flexibility. And if that weren't enough to adjust to...

We are scheduled to deliver Baby #4 (Rocco No-Middle-Name-Yet) tomorrow at noon! (My students will be off for about 3 weeks, then I'm back to work again, God-willing.) PLEASE, PLEASE pray for us. Many in the medical field don't recommend multiple C-sections, but our trust is in the Lord. And if that weren't enough to keep our minds occupied...

Jorge is on a big job interview today! He won't return until late tonight. We've moved all over Texas the past few years. We thought we were done too. We LOVE our current town... really, really love it, BUT...

A big school recently opened up a big position in Jorge's field. It's a very reputable, private school... and did I mention that they PAY COLLEGE TUITION for their employee's KIDS???!!! That alone was reason for Jorge to apply. These opportunities in his field are few & far between. So here we are weeks after an application, and Jorge is a finalist currently meeting people on their campus as I write. May God's will be done. If he gets it, we'll rejoice. If he doesn't, we'll rejoice. :-)

With all this uncertainty in our lives right now, we put our faith in the One who doesn't change & who holds every piece of our lives in His hands.

So I haven't updated our family blog since 2009! Oops. Well I suppose it would be wise to update it for Aunt Concha who is not on facebook. :-)

Our family has stayed busy. In 2009, we moved to a small town in the Dallas area and have really enjoyed it. The kids are growing like weeds.

Sebastian just started 2nd grade. *gasp!* He's got his father's humor and gift of math. Karol began kindergarten and is LOVING every moment of it. She gets excited about things like classroom turtles and getting tomatoes in her lunchbox. Blaise is home with his mom for now and is not sure what to do without his siblings around. There's no one young to play (or argue) with. That should change soon...


In one week, we expect the arrival of Baby #4. We are so excited.

A 4th pregnancy is soooo very different from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

This time, there are FIVE of us to anxiously await this arrival. The kids are ecstatic, and had even begun praying that God would give them another baby WAYYYY before our parental hearts were asking for that!

This time, there is less stress about cribs, diapers, etc. We know what basics baby items are needed, and the rest is not worth any stress. Ironically, a greater sense of calm comes with the 4th.

And, this time, we've noticed that strangers often look at us like we're crazy! When they see a pregnant mom toting 3 kids, they strangly try to talk me out of "wanting more." This part has been humorous AND sometimes difficult. :-) We know kids are exhausting, expensive, and in need of attention. We know we look somewhere in between being "irresponsible" or being "Octo-Mom type baby addicts." ;) However, from the beginning of our marriage, Jorge & I have been strongly convicted that each child God gives us will be considered a reward, a blessing, and a gift... even when they're not acting like one. To somehow say no to the gift would not be an option for us. We know that not everyone will understand, but it certainly makes us treasure all of the excitement and kind, encouraging words that have come from family, friends, & neighbors.

So God-willing, the next post will include our newest blessing! Please keep us in your prayers!

As you may know, our family has relocated once again. How did we make it, packing up ourselves, belongings, AND 3 young children? I suppose we wouldn't have made it without one BIG garage sale, a few good glasses of wine, and the grace of God (of course)!

We are loving the DFW area. We're in a small community that is full of friendly people. We've only been here for about 4 months, but we feel that we know half of the town already!

Our oldest is now in kindergarten, and it's going so well. We feel so blessed that he has a remarkable, loving teacher and some great friends. His teacher says he is a sponge, and we couldn't agree more. Last night, he independently spelled the word "vegetarian"... and only missed one letter! He's doing just as well on the soccer field. He scored the 1st goal of the season, and loves being part of the team. He'll be 6 next month, and we can't believe how our baby has grown up.

K turned 4 last month. She is a sweetheart and such a blessing, but I must be honest... I know that she is a payback for all I put my parents through! ;) She's a fiesty character, just like her mom... opinionated & assertive. (I don't necessarily think these are bad things, by the way!) For example, rather than listening to her Christian-kid CD's (which she refers to as "baby music"), she's rather listen to Matt Maher & Christian Rock. What a gal! She decided that she will dress up like a rock star for Halloween. :)

And our baby is no baby. At 16 months, he's running everywhere! At first, he was shy, very reserved, and little would impress him. At the zoo and at fireworks shows, he seemed unamused. He also spoke less than the others. Today, he's still our "chill" baby, but he interacts more than before. He says words like "Stop", "Bubbles", and "Whoa!" He & his brother love to rough-house with each other, and Jorge has even taught all of the boys how to do the "explosion" handshake. What a hoot!

Jorge & I are doing well. Like every football season, we see little of each other, since Jorge calls games & has football meetings at least 4 nights out of the week. The other 1 or 2 nights, I'm out leading a Bible study or taking a much-needed Mom-break. I'm also starting a new career in public speaking. My focus is communication, with a specialty tract on communicating with (marketing) Hispanic audiences in educational, medical, or corporate settings. Spread the word if you know anyone that could use these services!

We hope & pray that each of you are doing well!

Happy Easter!




And I almost forgot to mention... we have a new member of the family!

Here's a recent video of Blaise doing his thing. He likes to hop high in the air, like Tigger! Love it!

It's been ages since the last post. Life is moving quickly as usual. Jorge & I are back at work for the spring semester and enjoying it. I'm especially thankful that I still get to spend a good amount of time with the kids each day, thanks to God. They're growing like weeds. Blaise is now 7 months old, and his first tooth just broke through this weekend. During church, he chomped on my finger to let me know. :) His favorite form of entertainment right now is his 2 siblings! Karol is doing well too. She's a feisty, feisty little 3-yr-old! (Some say that this little apple isn't falling far from the tree!) She's a great listener, loves to read, and does have quite a big opinion. Sebastian is such a big boy at 5 now. He's about to lose his 1st tooth, and is looking forward to cash that in! To close, I'll leave you with a video from a recent family event. Jorge's aunt & uncle beautifully celebrated 50 years of marriage. It was very moving. They had a Mass, followed by a dance... and Karol was quite the dance machine. :)

What a transitionary time in our household! (Is "transitionary" a word??) New job, new preschool, new schedules, etc. Thanks to God, all is going well.

Our Blaise is growing like a weed! At his last checkup, his doctor said that he was doing well... "especially on weight"! Sebastian is doing great at his new preschool. Today, we are on the search for things that begin with "P" for tomorrow's Show & Tell. So far, we have a pacifier, pen, penny... and he's hoping I'll let him take a pickle to school. Karol, too, is doing well. She is becoming so much more conversational these days!

Here is a recent pic of me & Blaise, taken by my old college roommate when we went to visit her down in S. Texas. :)

And while in South Texas, we hit the beach!

And last, but not least, we took the annual visit to the Basillica of Our Lady of San Juan. What a beautiful place!

Well, life is good. We're slowly, but surely, adjusting to life with 3 kids. I truly feel blessed. Blaise, our newest is now about 7 weeks old. He's beginning to coo and smile, which melts all of our hearts... especially his older siblings. Sebastian often says, "Mom, he's just so cute!" Here's a picture of Blaise & Mom!



My hubby is now one year older, praise the Lord. Karol, Sebastian, & I did our best to spoil him throughout the day. We topped off the day with an ice cream cake, which Blaise accidently stuck his foot in!




The big news around here is that in a week or two will begin to work as a full-time instructor at the university. It's an amazing opportunity, so after much prayer, we realized it was an offer I couldn't refuse. I will still get a lot of time with the kids during the day, but not as much as before. I will particularly miss hanging out as much with all of the homeschooling moms & kids. Here we all are after a recent daytime Mass at the monestary.


Last but not least, here's one of our 3!

We're days away from Blaise's arrival, and things are going great! Sebastian has a countdown happening, and just can't wait for this baby!

Happy Easter! We had a beautiful Easter here in Laredo, celebrating it with family and friends. The kid are getting better and better at that egg-hunting every year, which my sister credits to the Carrasco genes! (My family REALLY likes that candy!)


The next baby is almost here! God-willing, he'll arrive in another 11 weeks or so. We are all very excited, especially the kids!


And as usual, we have that annual not-so-perfect Easter picture to share! We wish you all well!

Things keep getting better and better here in Laredo! It's so nice to put the kids in shorts and spend time at the park in the middle of winter and cold season! :)

Jorge & I celebrated our 6th anniversary in January, thanks to God! Here is a pic of the kids with the anniversary flowers!


The kids are growing up so quickly, so I am honored to be able to watch it all happen, thanks to God. They are sooo excited for the arrival of their little brother. (And at a chunky 6 months of pregnancy, so am I!) Sebastian recently made his own bed for the 1st time, so I was sure to get a picture!


Living in Laredo gives us the beautiful opportunity to frequently visit all of our family in Corpus Christi. Here is a picture of Karol getting spoiled by her cousin, Alex, and Uncle Ralph!


While in Corpus Christi, we also attended a Roaring 20's Valentine's Dance for Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church (Jorge's hometown parish). It was the perfect way for us to celebrate Valentine's Day with family & friends! (I would've posted more pics, but my duck-taped camera kept dying! Good news: I just got a new one!)

We have just returned to Laredo after a wonderful Christmas vacation. We went to Odessa, and spent time with Grandma, Great-Grandma, Tia Vanessa, Tia Angel, and many dear friends. We also made stops in Austin, Lockhart, and San Antonio for special visits with more family and friends! It was a great time, but we're pooped and glad to be home!

Long time, no update! So much to report!

First, great news! We are expecting the next Juarez Baby! Official due date is June 28th! Jorge & I are so excited... although that morning sickness has been a doozy! Sebastian is really hoping for a baby brother! Karol, as expected, is a little oblivious to it all! We're all doing well, and looking forward to going to Buela's house for Christmas! Here's one of our attempts at a Christmas card picture!



Fun news... I had the most wonderful opportunity recently. I met a few Lubbock friends in Hunt, TX to put on a retreat for our youth from Divine Mercy Church in Laredo. It was a weekend of a lifetime!



Sad news, our beloved dog, Roy passed away earlier this month. I adopted him 8 years ago, and am so grateful to have had such a wonderful pet for so long. He showed me how to love the way God wants me to! We will all miss him.



Merry Christmas, everyone!

Here is a slideshow from our recent and wonderful visit to Lubbock! We stayed with Karol's madrina, and attended Sebastian's padrino's wedding! (Wait! Did you catch all of that?)

At the end of July, Jorge celebrated another birthday! We praise the Lord for the gift of his life! The kids & I surprised him with a cake at his job, then took him to dinner later that evening!

Sebastian had the wonderful idea of making his dad a "Dinosaur Football Official" cake! You see... Sebastian loves dinosaurs... and his dad loves being a high school football official!
And since I'm on the topic of cakes... many of you know I love cake decorating! (Definately Eva's daughter!) So I've been playing around a little more! I've been working with the Divine Mercy Church youth group, so for our night about Mary, I made a cake!

Well we hope all are well! God bless!

We attended a wedding in San Angelo, and also met Buela there for the weekend. We had an awesome time!

Our dear friend Tamara, who we know from our days at Tech, had a beautiful, and holy wedding!

And thanks to God, we got to have a fun and very entertaining dinner with Fr. David! He's as kind and silly as ever!

We've now completed our 2nd month in Laredo. It's getting better and better, and slowly I am having fewer and fewer "I despise Laredo" days! It's not at all a terrible place... it's just that there are so many cultural differences, and it's difficult to adjust. Aside from the outrageous cost of real estate, it's a very beautiful place. God has been so good to us. I am loving being with the kids more, I actually might have a great p/t job in the fall, we have a wonderful church community, & Jorge is enjoying his new job. :) What has also helped us is that Uncle Ralph (Jorge's brother) & Aunt Suzie visited one week, and Tia Nessa (my sister) came another week. We had a blast with our families!

For those of you that "check in", here are some updated pics:

Sebastian is growing like a weed! We started a new "Be Good at Mass" incentive program! After many weeks of good behavior, he finally earned his much-awaited wrecking ball! (And Jorge & I finally get to pay attention and pray at Mass! Go figure!)

Karol is a bit fiesty (which no one can deny is totally Carrasco!), but she is such a sweetheart! She is growing up quickly. We even occasionally assign her the small chore of feeding Roy, because she's so good at it! :)

We are officially Laredoans! We're settled in and perhaps even getting used to the heat... ok, maybe not. Things are good, thanks to God.

Here are some recent pics! The first two are from the San Antonio Zoo! We're only a couple of hours away now.


Here's Sebastian after a day at the Dinosaur exhibit at a San Antonio museum. Back in Laredo at the local library!

Here's our home!

And... one more of the kiddos!