Category: Family

I was up since early this morning. Since Saturday and Sunday are the only days I get to make breakfast for the family now I got up early and made pancakes. I got Mario’s stuff ready for work and had my pancakes and coffee in peace and quiet (Mario had left, Alaethia was asleep, Jaylen was playing in his room and Eenan was at Mary’s) while I read the last three chapters of Shopaholic Ties the Knot. It was a cute ending. There were lots of typos in that book for some reason, but it was a good read. I’m ready to start on the 4th one, Shopaholic and Sister.

Mom came over and started rushing about telling me to get ready and hurry up. I needed to deposit at the bank and she wanted to go to a sale at Toys R Us before it was over. We made it out the door an hour later than we planned, as per usual.

I stopped by the pharmacy to see if they’d gotten ahold of Workman’s Comp., who were supposed to let them know if the wrist brace they prescribed to me was covered. They hadn’t called, so I left.

We went to Toys R Us first, where we got some Bionicle toys on sale for the boys and I got the old school stacking rings for Alaethia (she picked them!). Those will be their “small gift”. It’s already November (soon to be mid-November! Eeek!) and we haven’t gotten any shopping done, not even for the gift exchange! We really just haven’t had the extra cash to do so. We’re going to be rushing around at the last minute, just watch. I hate that. Mom just needs Big Mario and John to finish with her shopping. I’m so jealous.

We went to the mall next, where I was on a mission to find Mario some new shoes. The man wears wide-width, so we have the hardest time finding any. I stopped at Payless and JC Penny and had no luck, so I just got him some T-shirts. He’d already gotten his gift, a $700 system for his truck, but I feel bad not giving him anything on the actual day. Which isn’t till Monday, but we’re celebrating tomorrow.

Mom got me a Hello Kitty wallet for Christmas, but I don’t get to have it TILL Christmas. Phooey. Now I know how the kids feel.

We rushed to Wal-Mart, where I was to get only the stuff we needed for Mario’s get-together tomorrow but it still took a whole hour to do. Especially since we were starving and had to stop for some McDonald’s before we all passed out. I was so grossed out, though. I only wanted a fruit and walnut salad, since I was meeting the girls at Chili’s and was going to eat dinner anyway, but he told me they didn’t have any; they were expired. I said fine and ordered a cheeseburger. The girl who was getting the order ready put a fruit and walnut salad on my tray and when I lifted it up to inspect it I noticed the expiration date had been scratched off! How disgusting and rude! Had the guy not told me they were expired I probably wouldn’t have noticed and eaten them and possibly gotten sick! You could tell these were expired though. Apples shouldn’t look orange. I almost wanted to tell him to give me all my money back and take the food, but poor Jaylen was hungry and so was Mother. Last time, though. Never eating there again!

I feel so bad because we didn’t get to see Gramma again this week, but I’ll make it up to her. Either tomorrow or Monday after work/school for the kids. We were supposed to meet at Chili’s at 5:45 but I called Sally to let her know I was going to be late. After putting the groceries away and trying to make myself look half-decent, I left the house at exactly 6. I made it over there by 6:20, but thankfully she’d only been there a little bit and Karina had just arrived, too.

It was a great night. Reminiscing, talking about adult things, babies, just everything. It was only the three of us. The rest of the girls couldn’t make it and one in particular was banned. I can’t mention anything, but it was just so messed up. I still can’t believe the drama.

We need to have more nights like that. Sally makes a great-looking pregnant woman. Her belly is so big and she’s still got 2 weeks to go! They’re having a big baby, you can totally tell. She’s all belly. I’m gonna have to meet up with her again soon, because I forgot the bag of stuff I’d gotten her from Target. And I had it right there on the hook so I wouldn’t forget it =\.

Poor Mario was having a tough night (his shirt was dirty, he’d lost money) but he got himself all spiffied up and went out with Manny. Not that they’re doing much, they’re just at Manny’s, but I’m glad he went somewhere. I always feel a little guilty when I go out, even though I know I shouldn’t.

Alaethia’s still awake and I’m about to crash, so I’m gonna go. I need to be up early to get the lasagna’s cooked for Mario’s get together!

Things at work went much better than I thought they would. I didn’t even have to leave the library. I thought for sure they’d move me somewhere else but they didn’t even bother LOL. All I did all day was sort through magazines, scan the books in and put them on the cart (and one of our 8th graders who loves to wander around and get out of class helped with over half of them), I highlighted some info on a stack of documents, entered some student info into the reading program entirely with my left hand, and then we went to the Veteran’s assembly. That’s when my wrist/arm started throbbing a little bit, but not too bad.

The assembly was nice, although we could hardly hear anything. I hung around speaking to Mrs. Ruiz, the boss and her kids for a while and then went to pick up the kiddos. I like the 10 minutes I’m waiting in line for them. I get to READ. I’m finally about to be done with Shopaholic Ties the Knot.

I need to enjoy my ten minutes of reading while I can, though, because once we move to the new school I’m going to spend those 10 minutes hauling ass across town to make it on time to pick up the kids. I think I’ll be fine, though. Even if I’m 5 minutes late to pick them up, it beats the extra half hour it takes for the bus to drop them off at home.

I got home and I sat outside with Mario, Jorge, Mom and the kids. Mario asked if I wanted to go to town to jot down prices for the things the kids want for Christmas and of course I said yes. The boys stayed with Mom while Mario, Aly and I went to K-Mart. We ended up finding two original Xbox games, one for $5 and one for $10. Mario got an extra Xbox controller battery and we got some sodas to go with the pizzas we ordered for dinner. I was a bit surprised when we paid for our stuff, because it was $7 bucks cheaper that it should have been. Turns out the $10 game was $3! I was pretty disappointed when we tried playing them on the 360 and they didn’t work, even after Mario installed the updates. I really, really wanted to play Bubble Bobble :(.

We’d looked around to see what we’re getting Alaethia and I still have no idea what I really want to get her. I wanted to get her the Rose Petal Cottage, so she could grow into it, but then I realized you have to buy everything separately and the house itself is made out of thin material. Grr.

Aide, Adan and Belle came over for a bit and us girls sat around and talked about the babies and work. When they left, the boys, Mom and I went to Dollar General to buy a few things (the boys had been saving their dollars all week to buy a toy) while Mario stayed with Alaethia. And now Eenan and Mario are playing Halo 3 and Jaylen and Aly have crashed out. I’m next. I can hardly keep my eyes open but I’m trying to see how long I can keep my blogging streak going.

So far, it’s been 3 days in a row! Woo!

We had a meeting yesterday to discuss the move to the new school. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but we’re being housed at an old middle school (old middle school — it’s from 1926!) till the new building is completed. (Right now work’s 5 minutes away…when we move it’ll be about 15-18 🙁 .) We kept hearing different things about when the actual move would take place — first we’d only be there one month, then we were moving the 2nd week of October, then either the week before Christmas vacation or the week after we got back. Well now, for sure, we’re supposed to be at the new building December 3rd. A new elementary is being built and the kids who are going there are being housed at another elementary and they’re desperately overcrowded, so they need the middle school we’re at fast. Poor kiddos…that school is not suitable for little ones. It’s too old, unsafe, and way too full of mold. Seriously.

So I was feeling pumped this morning and asked the boss when we’d start packing. She said as soon as possible. So we got to searching for milk crates (much more convenient than cardboard boxes) and started packing up the books. I’d gotten twelve crates done and took a bathroom break. On the way back I took the exit I usually do and was heading out as a girl was coming in. She’d swung the door too hard and it came flying back. She didn’t notice it was about to close on her so I nudged her gently out of the way…and the door slammed into my hand, pushing into my wrist. I immediately felt a snap. I told the boss what happened and I just shrugged it off and was about to get back to work when she told me to report it. She regretted not reporting an incident that happened to her and now she’s having a lot of trouble with her injury. So there I went, to the nurse.

She started making a fuss and I kept saying I was fine — it was only a little sore. She put an ice pouch on my wrist and jotted down my info. She told me to follow my doctor’s instructions exactly as they were given to me and told me where to go. She sat next to me to check my wrist once again and as she lifted the ice pouch I was shocked to see just how swollen my wrist had become. She said she could tell I had a bit of Carpal Tunnel going on but she was concerned about just how huge the bump was. She bandaged me up and sent me off.

I went to see the assistant principal to get the rest of my info taken down, went to the doctor, was sent back to Risk Management, went to the doctor again and was finally seen about an hour and a half later. I was told not to use my right hand/wrist at all, had some pain meds prescribed and got an order for an x-ray.

I came home and had lunch then Mom and Alaethia joined me on the ride to the radiologist. Alaethia was made a big fuss about at the doctor’s; they kept talking about how cute and tiny she is. She adores attention!

I was told to take a pregnancy test, “just in case,” even though — on top of everything else — I “started” today. Bleh. No wonder I was feeling so emotional when they told me I’d have to go to the doctor and all that LOL.

I was, of course, not pregnant, so they went ahead with the x-ray. I hope everything’ll be alright. I know it’s not broken and I can move my fingers, but I feel this weird, tingling, hot pain that shoots from the front (palm side) of my wrist to the middle of my arm.

John thankfully picked the boys up for me when they got out and I stopped at Target real quick since Mom needed detergent. Then we went home. The boys were so sweet — they were really concerned and got really sad when they saw my wrist all bandaged up and sad looking. I told them it was nothing. It’s kind of funny: everyone keeps asking, “What happened?” when they see the bandage and I can’t even tell them some awesome story — no. I have to say, “I got hit by a door.”

It really sucks that this had to go and happen when we’re going to be so busy getting everything ready for the move.

At least everything at home’s nice and low-key. I made spaghetti for dinner (no meatballs since I couldn’t roll them up =/) and we ate at Mary’s with Jorge, Yadira, Mom, all the kids and even Mario who got out of work early. I got to speak to Sally and Karina. And I got the boys’ insurance enrollment fee ready to send off. I’m thrilled that they got accepted! And now it’s 12 months instead of 6, which is awesome. We’re also getting a reimbursement from Mario’s insurance (which we’ve canceled since he won’t be needing it) and I’m also getting a reimbursement from my dental insurance for paying more than I should have.

It’s taken me forever to type this up. At least now I know I can care for an active baby, drive, and type up a semi-long entry with my left hand!