Category: Family

This entry was started, oh, about a week ago? With everything going on I’m totally behind on updating, so I figured I’d just upload what I have so far and continue with the rest of the entry tomorrow before I end up with a 10-page novel (who knows, I’m probably close already!).

(Started last Friday) The past week’s been a blur of doctor’s appointments and…stress.

Let me rewind. It thunder stormed, loudly, early morning of the 24th (Thursday). Both the boys got scared when there was a particularly earth-shaking bang of thunder, so they wanted to sleep in our bed. Since I was feeding Alaethia just at that moment I told them they’d have to go back to their beds because all 5 of us wouldn’t fit. I woke up in the morning to get them ready for school and freaked out when neither of them were in their beds. I go to the living room and find them lying on the couch, asleep together. Aww!

Aly turned 4 months old on the 24th. She started sitting up with assistance from her Boppy on that very day!

So far she has begun to grab for things, she constantly teething, sitting up, rubs her blanket on her face when she’s sleepy, sleeps in her crib all night, starting from 11pm or 12am to around 4 or 5am and then sleeps after that till 8 or 9am. THEN sleeps, most of the time, not always (like when I want to take a nap) till 11am. She’s showing signs of wanting to eat “big people food” (the poor thing just stares and stares when we’re eating!) and likes to drink water from cups.

It was also John’s birthday that day. He’d been not-so-subtlety hinting that he wanted me to bake him a cake, and since I was part of the reason his birthday was ruined last year, I obliged. We wanted to take him out to Kumori’s, a sushi place, but he changed his mind at the last minute, as always.

I started making everything around 4 pm. I had to go to Dollar General twice that day to get ingredients for the cake and enchiladas I was making. He got home from work and I took him to Circuit City, where they had the Tekken game for PSP that he was looking all over for. Went to Big Lots to get feminine products and since I felt embarrassed buying only pads (yes, at 25, married with 3 children I still feel odd buying Just Pads at stores) so I looked around the scrapbooking isle. Well, I ended up with scrapbooking supplies only since they didn’t have any kinds of pads I like.

We went next door to K-mart, where they only had crappy kinds of pads so I had to stop by Family Dollar on the way home, since it’s the only other store in the city and I didn’t want to go to Dollar General again for the third time that day. Needless to say, it felt like forever before we got home. Mario actually beat us home that time.

I was tired as hell, and then a little disappointed because John left with his friend and didn’t even eat the food or cake (that he MADE me make him) that I worked so hard on :(. He ate it the next day though, after he got back, so he was forgiven.

Eenan felt fine the next day, so he went to school. Jaylen, on the other hand, still felt really lethargic, didn’t want to eat a thing (hadn’t really eaten well since the day before in the afternoon) because of how bad his throat hurt, and had a fever of 102°. We took Jaylen to the doctor first thing that morning after Eenan left to school.

I had to go through all these calls and stuff since he’d already seen his primary doctor this month, all while poor Jaylen slept on the bench and Mario held Alaethia. The office had to get some kind of permission to allow their new doctor (Alaethia’s primary) to see him that day, or else we’d get charged full price for the doctor’s visits the boys had already had earlier during the week, which would have easily been at least $300.

They told me there was a lot of Strep Throat and Herpangina going around. Most of the kids they’d been seeing recently have had Strep or Herpangina. As soon as the nurse practioner, Edith, saw Jaylen she said, “Oh! He’s even got the Scarletina bumps. I can tell you right now he’s probably got Strep.”

I had honestly not noticed the bumps at all until that very moment. They were tiny and fine little bumps, almost like goosebumps. They’re called Scarletina, or Scarlet Fever, and very common with Strep. Edith prescribed some antibiotics and Mortin and sent us off. She said he should feel better in 24 hours.

We went to leave his prescription at H-E-B, then went straight to pick up Mario’s paycheck. Elda called as we were entering Palmview to let us know she’d already picked up Brandon, so we didn’t have to pick him up after school. I had a nagging feeling we should have just picked up Eenan early, too, to avoid having to rush to get him at 3:30, but thought, ‘Nah,’ so we just kept going. I’m not kidding you, not even 5 seconds later I get a call on my cell from the nurse that Eenan was in her office with a temperature of 101. I frantically called everyone–Jorge, Sonia, and Elda–to see who could pick him up for me until we got there. The nurse gave him some Tylenol with my permission and Elda went for him.

On the way back home we stopped by H-E-B to pick up Jaylen’s prescription and then Dollar General to get soups and Gatorade. Poor Jaylen kept mumbling, “I just wanna feel better…” I felt so bad for him :(.

The first thing we did when we got home was give him some warm soup and Gatorade. He took his medicine and felt so much better while eating his chicken and stars soup. It was such a relief to see him eat something, finally.

To be continued….

Since Alaethia only took about 3 10-minute naps all day long I was certain she’d fall asleep early like she did yesterday. Fat chance. I was really surprised — she fell asleep around 11:15ish and didn’t wake up for a bottle till 5:30am! I’m so used to her waking up around 5 that I woke up on my own and literally just waited for her to wake up. I wish I could just sleep the entire time that she does but I can’t! I don’t know what’s wrong with me!

Anyway, I forgot to mention that John and I went to Target on Monday right before I had to pick Eenan and Brandon up from school. I always do that — say that I don’t want to go anywhere and always end up doing so. Anyway, it was in my favor. John got me another Craft Storage Cube, this time for my scrapbooking paper! The deal was: he’d buy me the cube (with a $5 off coupon I had even) and I would give him $20 on his birthday. So, it’s basically like I bought it for myself! I love it though. My paper’s all nice and organized and I can find everything much easier. I also got a tiny organizer box and a scrapbooking magazine for inspiration!

I’ve still yet to even start on one page, but I keep thinking, “I’ll wait a bit because I might find better stuff!” And if not that, then it’s the lack of time that’s stopping me. Maybe this weekend. I don’t have much to do (well, that I can think of so far) other than just housework, so we’ll see.

Jaylen’s appointment went much better than I’d hoped it would. I was bracing myself all morning for the worst possible scenario. I picked him up from school (10 minutes later than I was planning to) and we arrived just in time. He was cheerful and in a good mood and I didn’t have the heart to break it to him and tell him he was getting a shot. I never know how to break it to the kids because I know for sure they’re going to have that terrified feeling in their chest and it’ll only build up and cause a greater scene.

But he did really good! He of course, wailed when he saw the syringe lying on the table, but after the male nurse carried him onto the table (I could NOT lift him up; he was heavy as a boulder) and I held his face in my hands and the female nurse poked him in the arm he just stopped. Just like that, abruptly stopped. Puzzled and probably wondering, “That’s what I’m making a big fuss about?”

I’d told him if he was good I’d take him to get a bite to eat, which I had to do anyway since it was lunchtime LOL. We went to Long John Silver’s, his current favorite, and we both got popcorn shrimp, Mom ordered for herself and I got Mario a plate to take back to work for him. With all the driving around I’m so glad gas went back down (“down”, ha! Yeah right.) to $2.99.

On the way back from dropping off Mario’s lunch, we stopped by our old property so that Mom could pluck out a Bougainvillea but they’re so darn old we didn’t stand a chance. The stem was huge on all of the bushes and there weren’t any tiny ones anywhere. That’s something I rememberly vividly about our old house: the beautiful, different colored Bougainvilleas that grew all along the perimeter of the yard. Fushia ones, red ones, orange ones and even the rare-ish white ones.

We stopped by Target after that. I got the boys some bubbles from the Dollar Spot and found some cute velcro bows for Alaethia. I’d been looking for some velcro bows for her since before she was born!

That’s my new current favorite picture of her! Mario saw it and said, “I’ve GOT to get that for my Myspace.” LOL

I’ve been realizing more and more, if that’s even possible, how much I love my husband. I rarely get to see him because he works so much, but I know he’s doing it for us. One day it’ll get better, I know it will. He feels so bad for not being here. And well, like right now he could have been here, but he’s dropping off his co-worker’s computer at his cousin’s house so his cousin can fix it since he doesn’t have time since he didn’t get to do that yesterday.

He told me tonight while watching City of Angels, “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” out of nowhere, just like that. I feel the same way about him :).

We had a conversation last night about maybe renewing our vows. At first I wanted to so bad; I even brought up how nice it would be to get re-married on our 10 year wedding anniversary. To get married in a church this time, in the eyes of God and have an actual honeymoon. But I think God’s already watching over us. We’ve already been together 10 wonderful years (married eight), have 3 beautiful, intelligent children and I feel that God’s truly blessed us. So, like we agreed last night, if it happens, it happens. He wants to go all out though and said, “If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right!” It would be really sweet to have all our kiddos involved in the wedding this time :).

I can feel little hearts floating out of my ears. Either that, or I’m just really sleepy right now. Alaethia finally (thankyouLord) fell asleep so I shall take a quick shower and get in bed. I really need to start a new schedule. Maybe take a shower while Mom’s here, around 5pm, so that I can cuddle up with her at night and get her to fall asleep then put her in her crib. She’s officially a crib-only baby! Has been for about the past month or so. I’m so grateful!

I’m so exhausted right now. I know I’ve said ‘I’m exhausted’ before, but I think those times were an understatement compared to how I feel at the moment.

I haven’t felt “well” since Sunday night. My stomach constantly bothers me, yet nothing intestinal is wrong with me. I just feel…weird. Like, a strange pain right under my chest. I almost thought I was having a heart attack last night, no joke.

I’ve also been waking up at strange hours and not being able to fall back to sleep. Two nights ago I woke up at 2:30pm, probably because that’s around the time Mario came to the bedroom, and didn’t fall back to sleep till almost 4. Last night (or early morning) I woke up at 4 and stayed up until 4:30. Alaethia doesn’t even wake me up till 5:30 or 6 so it’s annoying that I’m waking up on my own instead of resting!

I had every intention of falling back to sleep this morning after the boys left to school and Mario left to work, but I was starving and had some cereal and didn’t want to go back to sleep. I feel…well, like a fatass, and I have my dress fitting for Noelia’s wedding this Saturday. LOVELY. So, going back to sleep after a full stomach isn’t really such a good idea.

Then, the stupid cable guy called and said he was coming over so I wouldn’t have been able to fall asleep any way.

I had to make an appointment for the boys with their doctor, but they were full so they told me to go in as a walk-in. Stupidly, I said okay. I didn’t have much choice, seeing as how Eenan was complaining of chest pain. After all the bronchial and pnuemonial problems he’s had I always mind what he tells me. Jaylen was also up for his 5 year physical (and vaccines) and I was also hoping to squeeze Alaethia in for her ear piercing. I figured I’d do it there even though the boys’ doctor isn’t her primary since they numb the ears before doing the procedure.

Anyway, I’m rambling. I showered while Alaethia was sleeping, then bathed her when she woke up. Mom got home from her doctor’s appointment and gave me her latest health news: she’s got early signs of osteoperosis. They’re going to do further tests to make sure.

She stayed with Aly while I picked up Jaylen. We went over to the library to sign Eenan’s Millionaire’s Club field trip permission slip since he, as usual, forgot to bring it to me since over a week ago. I don’t know what I’m going to do with that boy and his forgetfulness. That, and he’s very disorganized (you should see his backpack!).

After Eenan got out of school, John, the kiddos and I got into the car and left. This was around 4:15. We were at the doctor’s office by 5 something. We were still at the doctor’s at 6. One of the nurses noticed we’d been there forever, probably dying of thirst as we were, and offered us drinks. Sprites for John and I, Hi-C’s for the boys. The sugar in the drink didn’t help the boys one bit. They were becoming stir-crazy and started acting up; Eenan more than Jaylen. Then later, after Jaylen got his physical done he started acting up. My boy will most likely be wearing glasses now and we found out today he has an irregular heartbeat. Not a heart murmur, but we’re going with a Cardiologist just to be sure.

Eenan’s chest pain is probably due to a dry cough he’s had, so he got prescribed medicine for that. Alaethia didn’t even get her ears pierced because they’re not doing that till summer vacation. Lovely.

So around 8pm we’re finally leaving, when the office closes at 7. AND I thought I forgot Jaylen’s immunization card so we have to go back tomorrow. I have to take him out of school early and everything. When we went to Walgreens to drop off the prescriptions I found the darn thing in my purse. I guess it was a good thing, even though I’m going to have to drive all the way the hell over there again, since I was so stressed and wouldn’t have been in the mood to hear Jaylen screaming tonight. He was already crying over a video game he wanted. As annoyed as I was, I thought it was really cute that he was giving me his $2 he’d been saving and asked me to “put in the rest” for the Zelda game LOL.

We had to wait an hour for the prescriptions, so we got a pizza from Little Caesar’s and drinks from Stripes and ate in the truck. Alaethia started fussing (only time) so we got down to get the prescriptions. Jaylen’s wasn’t available and Eenan’s freaking cough medicine cost $20. Bastards! (I just noticed on the receipt that it said “Your insurance saved you $73.41!” So basically the stupid cough medicine costs almost $100!)

So yeah, that was my day. I was highly annoyed, but feel much better now that Mario’s home and we had a nice long, lovey-dovey chat. I shall go cuddle with him now :).