Started Monday by dropping John off at work and taking the kids to get haircuts. We totally forgot to take them on Friday and had things to do over the weekend so we didn’t have time. Most places are closed Sunday and Monday over here but thankfully Manny’s wife, Mayra’s, shop was open. She did a great job on the kids’ hair, thank goodness. Got them home and had them take showers and then I got to cleaning. I wanted to get together with Sally since it was her day off, but I knew if I didn’t start on the chores I wasn’t going to do them LOL.
The family drama that was going on over the weekend branched off into and got worse on Monday. So much so that big changes happened, such as the whole back yard got a thorough cleaning and Mario’s Chevelle is now parked in front of Mom’s apartment (the drama had nothing to do with Mario, however). It got crazy. I called Sally and we made plans to meet at 5:30. Crazy girl would not let me drive to McAllen–I feel so bad that she drives all the way over here when we get together!
I went to my appointment at 4, accompanied by John, who wanted the scoop on the drama since he had no idea what was going on. I figured once I’m done at my appointment, I’d get home and shower and blow dry/flat iron my hair so I can look decent for once. There was a big discussion going on about the drama over at Mary’s, and since I was too busy listening to the details I didn’t get a chance to get spiffy, heh.
Sally gets here around 6pm and we make plans about where to eat while on the road. We chit chat some more and then she tells me she has a surprise for me. She mentions something about “him” and I look at her, wide-eyed thinking to myself Woman, I am married!
Turns out she invited our childhood friend, Pete, to join us for dinner at Chilli’s. This was so awesome; I hadn’t seen Pete since 2001, when I ran into him at a gas station and I was a month pregnant with Jaylen, and before that, since I left McAllen in ’97.
We waited for him and got seated when he arrived. It was so nice seeing him and I kept thinking how great it was that after all these years, at the ages of 24, there we all were having dinner and great conversation. He’s the same Pete I knew back when we were little, albeit older and wiser :).
We reminisced about childhood and we laughed about how, in 3rd grade, Pete would come over to my house and he’d patiently listen to me sing Little Mermaid songs and we’d usually look for bones, because we were archaeologists don’tcha know? Who knows exactly what we were digging up, probably a chicken or possum, but darnit, we were determined to put them back together :P.
We talked about people we grew up with who are together now, what some of them are doing and those we haven’t seen. I don’t remember if I asked, or if either one of them brought it up, but we talked about Freddy S. and how I hadn’t heard anything about him. Sally couldn’t put the name to the face and I said, “Freddy, remember? He had a crush on me since like, Kinder, or something?” and Pete says, “Who didn’t have a crush on you?”
I was kind of shocked and flattered, but I’m still not sure if it was true or if he was being sarcastic LOL. If it’s true, do you know what that does for my self-esteem? Boys had crushes on me before I had boobs, so they had to like me for me and not my breasts!
Sally and Pete shared details about their recent breakups and asked me about parenting. We talked about life in general and here and there they’d mention a party that they’d attended back in high school, or the years after that. I felt a tiny pang of sadness, almost a jealousy that life had gone on without me after I left. At the time I knew everyone would move on, of course they would, but I still sort of naively wished life would be put on hold till I could somehow return to McAllen. It was a tad bit heartbreaking to hear about these parties, but I found comfort in the thought that now that we’ve gotten back in touch, we can have new parties where I’m included :). Pete said that maybe after I’m “on my feet” after I have the baby, we can get together for a bar-b-q or something with some of our old friends and so everyone can meet Mario. I can’t wait for that :).
We continued to have even more great conversation and I just had a really fantastic time catching up with my old buddies. Mario called around 8pm to let me know he was out of work. I told him we were at Chilli’s and would he like to pick me up so Sally wouldn’t have to make the long trip to our house and then back home. He said sure, he’d be there in 15 minutes.
The darn waiter took forever coming around (and may I add, he and another girl screwed up Sally’s order twice and he brought me really shitty mango tea), so we couldn’t ask for the darn check. Since Mario had already gotten there, and the waiter hadn’t, Pete offered to pay for my meal. I told him no, I just needed to remember how much it was. He said he planned on paying for both our meals but I felt so guilty. Since Mario was already there and I felt a little rushed, I agreed to him paying for my meal, but darnit, I still feel guilty LOL. How very nice of him, though. He’s always been a gentleman.
Sally walked me out and she and Mario said hello and we had a bit more chit chat before cars started lining up behind us.
I talked Mario’s ear off all the way home about what a great night I had. Since Mom had fed the kids we picked up dinner for Mario at McDonald’s. We spent some time with the kiddos and then I got them ready for bed for school the next day. I prayed for the best since the night before Jaylen was still waking up with excuses why he couldn’t sleep till around 12am. I think they were so tired from being up so early and taking no naps that they stayed asleep all night that night.
I took a shower and then Mario and I watched TV in the bedroom. We snuggled and had Alone Time :). We have to get as much Alone Time in as we can since Alaethia will be here soon!
I slept really well that night, for once. I got up to pee one time and that was it. Wish that would always happen!
I got the kids ready for school the next day, Tuesday. After being on break for almost 3 weeks, they were exceptionally well-behaved and got ready in record time. After dropping them off and making breakfast for Mario I rested. I waited for Roadrunner guy. I would have updated about Monday that morning, but the friggin’ internet kept shutting off as soon as I’d sit at the computer (no kidding!).
I got a call from the nurse that Eenan had pee accident at 10:50. I take him a change of clothes and ask him, “What happened, Dude? Why’d you have an accident?” He says, “Well, I had an itch on my Weedos and I can’t scratch in class so I had to do SOMETHING about it!” I surpress a laugh and tell him, “Eenan! You can ask to go to the bathroom, you know! You don’t have to pee in your pants!”
After walking him to class and lecturing him on how it’s not cool to pee your pants to relieve an itch I go back home. The Roadrunner guy is already waiting for me when I get here. He works on the problem (an old wire he has to replace all around the house) and Mom stays here while I go pick up Jaylen. He had a great first day back.
Someone’s at the door and yay, it’s my new keyboard for my cell phone! I have an absolute fit with it since my phone’s cradle isn’t being read by the USB for some reason. I end up having to reinstall everything, install the keyboard’s drivers and sync everything to my phone and I finally figure the keyboard out at 3. I pick up Eenan and Brandon from school, where I quickly typed up an entry and it gets erased. Lovely. I try it out again and it works! I’m wondering if it works better on a flat surface since I was having trouble with it in the truck?
After making sure Eenan starts on his homework, Mom takes over and John and I leave to JC Penny. I have no desire to actually go, but I need to find something to wear for my baby shower.
I have the hardest time finding something nice. Scratch that, I have a hard time finding something that FITS! They don’t make extra-small in the darn maternity section of JC Penny (or so, I’ve never seen any) and size small just hangs on me and looks baggy.
After trying on two black dresses and stomping out of the fitting rooms John says, “What happened? Oh, they don’t make size midget.” Grr. I admit, I laughed, it was funny. But my hand was balled up into a fist at my side. He kept joking about how I was going to attach a hanger to his tear duct when I got tired of him and smacked him with one. It was so tempting!
After about an hour of moping around and looking through all the crappy clothes, I finally find size small in the only blouse I actually liked. And it fit! I had to get a tan colored cami for it but I had matching pants at home, so yay. I hated spending $35 on those clothes, though, especially since I’ll probably only get to wear it once!
I get some cute t-shirts for the boys and muscle shirts Mario needed. I’ll be returning them though, since they’re super long and he didn’t like that =\.
We walked around the mall. I told John I probably wouldn’t be able to walk too much since my back was killing me and Alaethia’s head was making it hard to walk these days. We go to Hot Topic. They had such cute onesies with cute skulls on them and I fell in love with some cute little hotpink shoes John said he’d totally buy her. We get John’s Proactive stuff and continue to walk around. I can’t stand the pain and realize I’m an hour late in taking the antibiotic for my ear infection. John wants a Vanilla Caramel Avalanche from Gloria Jean’s so we go. I didn’t want to wait any longer to take my medication so I buy a raspberry tea. Grossest tea I’ve ever had in my life, but oh well, I needed to take the darn pill. As we’re walking back it dawns on me that I might not make it back to car–my belly feels really low and heavy and my legs feel like they’ve turned to stone. We slow down, a lot and I somehow miraculously make it to the car, which was parked on the other side of the mall. As I’m driving I feel pain whenever she moves. It seriously feels like there’s no room left in there.
I pick up and take Mario some junk food he requested from Stripes. I get down and go to the truck he’s working on since he never turned around to notice we were there. I joke around with him about losing his tools since he just dumped them there on the floor of the customers, Cesar’s, car. Cesar approaches the car as I’m lecturing him (playfully mostly) and Mario tells him, “This is why I work, man–so I don’t have to hear her nagging.” Dork. I chill out for a few more minutes while he teases a co-worker who he calls Frodo. He’s the one who bought the Prelude off of us. He’s already done stuff to it and is getting ready to paint it!
John and I joke and laugh all the way home and I’m super exhausted when we get here. I’m surprised to find a Target package on the table. It’s from Diana!! She got Alaethia some adorable receiving blankets from my Registry. You don’t know how much I appreciate this, hun!! I’m so touched I still can’t find the words to express myself correctly. Thank you so much, you’re the sweetest!
Mom was still here when I opened the package and said, “How nice! You need to send her a thank you!” She was so shocked and interested that someone I met online and lives a continent away could possibly send me a gift. She’s as touched as I am :).
Later in the evening, when the boys were in bed and Mario was going to go for a drive to have a cigarette, he went into the closet and pulled out his old No Fear sweatshirt. I loved that sweatshirt; he’d wear it when we were back in highschool. Only before, he was so buff he filled it out. It almost looked like it was too tight. He’s stopped working out since then and has reverted back to his cut, but skinny self.
He emerges from the hallway with his arms at each side–the thing is hanging off of him. I surpress a laugh and say, “It looks…alright,” when he asks me how it looks. I can’t hold my laugh in anymore when he looks in the full length mirror in the bathroom and has a sad expression on his face. I’m wheezing from laughing so much and he turns and scowls at me. I stop laughing long enough to say, “Aww, look at your little neck!!” He bursts out laughing too, turns and goes back into our bedroom. He’s wearing another sweater and stands in the hallway to ask for approval. I say, “That looks better!” and he throws the No Fear sweater at me. I say, “Hey! I’m just saying it’s more flattering to your…physique!” We both laugh hysterically, only he’s laughing at how amusing I’m finding this and I’m laughing at how hard he’s taking it. He starts poking me in my sides and says, “You’re supposed to be my wife! Till death do us part!”
I wish I’d been taking video. It was so hilarous. My little skinny husband LOL.
Ooh, I’m having a contraction. And I need to start on dinner so I’ve gotta run!
The Garcia family — Martina, 42; Juvencio, 41; Juvencio Jr., 16; Andres, 13; and Marcos, 1 1/2 years old — live in a church bus that was converted into a home near FM 1925 in Edcouch.
Martina has liver cancer, which spread from her colon, and undergoes chemotherapy that leaves her sick and feeling weak. (Source/full story: