Wed., Oct. 1st – I took half a day off because I had my 18 week appointment and I had no idea how I was going to pick up Jaylen, make my appointment at 4 and still get out with enough time to pick Eenan up from his UIL practice. So I got out at half-day (10:30) and came home to drop off my lunch so it wouldn’t spoil and stink up my car and found Mom trying to put Alaethia to sleep. Grr. I left poor Alaethia crying and went to the doctor.
Since the baby didn’t let us see its gender at the last appointment, I was on pins and needles because I just knew I’d be finding out that day. I was still certain I was having a girl, regardless of my 50/50 chance the doctor had told me about at the previous appointment.
I read my book, The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales (an author who grew up in the city I grew up in, McAllen!) and waited patiently. Then they called me in.
They took my weight (I’d only gained a pound in two weeks, thank God. I expected the scale to say otherwise!) and my blood pressure and sugars were fine. When they took me into the Sono room my legs were shaking and my teeth were chattering. I felt silly being that nervous, but I was! I couldn’t help it. Dr. C. came in and went over my chart. He was going to do a sono first. Yay! I asked him if he’d be checking the baby’s gender and he said yes. He’s moving the wand back and forth, taking measurements of the head, tiny thigh bones and the spine. I’m filming the entire thing. He checks the gender and says, “Ah, a little girl.” It kind of didn’t register the first time. When I hear him say it again I say, “Really?” and he says, “Yup!”
I keep staring, kind of in shock and giddy at the same time. I ask him, “Like, for real, for real?” And he says, “Yup, see, there’s her vagina!” I couldn’t contain my happiness and said, “Oh, I’m so happy!” and he said, “Que bueno.”
I got my labs done for the AFP and told the girls up front about my happy news. They’re all thrilled for us. I love my nurses…two are my friends on Myspace even LOL.
I called Mario as soon as I got into the car. I asked him, “Guess what your baby is?” and he said, “What?” I practically screamed, “A girl!!!” He laughs and says, “I knew it!”
Meanwhile I can hear Jorge in the background yell, “Noooo!” LOL
I got home to find two sleeping ladies on the sofa. I expect it from Alaethia, but not the babysitter! When Mom heard me make noise I told her the happy news and she was elated. Mary was too (all the ladies she was having lunch with screamed), as were Mrs. V. and Mrs. Ruiz, and so were everyone else we told. Words can’t describe how happy I am! I can already imagine Alaethia and the little one playing together. Now we just need a name!!
Thurs., Oct. 2nd – Work was slow Wednesday afternoon after I left, so thankfully there wasn’t too much waiting for me when I got there. It was a really low-key day, thank God.
Fri., Oct. 3rd – I can’t even begin to describe to you how awful that day was. And I know it’s because I didn’t pray during the moment of silence. A teacher came in during the announcements and although I had my head bowed and really wasn’t replying to her she continued to talk. It was supposed to be a low-key day but we had all of band and guitar there because they were varnishing the dance hall and the smell was strong. Add to that anywhere from 8-15 loud kids that had passed their 6 weeks exams in their science class throughout the day—it was so loud. And their teachers really weren’t watching them. The library was in shambles by the end of the day. Mrs. V. was also in a mood since the morning—she kept giving me pointless tasks and actually picked on me a few times. I was so frustrated by the end of the day. All was made better when Mario texted me, “How about dinner, just the two of us?”
We got Happy Meals for the kids and a meal for Mom before we left. On the way to town we couldn’t decided where to go. At first I wanted to go to somewhere like Chili’s or Olive Garden, but then decided I really wanted some good pizza. Papa John’s was too far, so we went to Luca Pizza in Mission instead. They didn’t actually have the pizza I wanted, nor did they have jalapeno poppers, but I got a pretty tasty stuffed pizza and some mozzarella sticks. We sat and talked, just the two of us. I’m loving spending more time with Mario. I don’t even want to imagine the hormonal basket case I’d be if he were still working those long hours at D-Tronics. It’s great having the same days off now.
Since it was still early we stopped by Jorge and Maggie’s for a bit to say hello. The usuals were all there chilling in their garage. It was actually cold that night, now that I’m remembering. We got home early for the first time in a long time. I’m sure Mom was relieved, heh.
Sat., Oct. 4th – I made omelets for Mario and me that morning. Mary stayed with all three kiddos while Mario and I went to the bank, D-tronics, and Circuit City to pay our bill and buy some speakers for the improved back patio. We went to Home Depot to get some outlet covers and a new “removable” shower head and then to the new Best Buy to check it out and get speaker wire. We filled up my Equinox with gas at $2.99!! We had a quick lunch at Whataburger and then went home. Mario got to work installing the new speakers while I paid bills online—yes, that is my life, paying bills. When I was done I went outside to chill with everyone listening to music emitted from the new speakers, which sounded even better than we thought they would. I read my baby name book trying to get some sort of inspiration. This is the first baby we’ve conceived where we don’t already have some idea for a name. I liked Amilia and kept trying to convince Mario to like it but he was afraid they’d call her AmELIA instead of AmILIA. Right when the name had finally grown on him I decided that nope, I didn’t like it anymore. First, I could imagine kids calling her Amelia Bedilia and then I saw a woman whose name was Emilia on the news, which was my 2nd choice of spelling, and thought Nope, don’t like it.
Mom got here with a surprise for Alaethia while we were outside: a Dorothy costume!! I didn’t think we’d find one in her size, but she did! Alaethia literally squealed with happiness when she was showing Eenan. She even got her a Toto in a basket and some cute maroon shoes she wanted to spray with red glitter, but they’re too cute to ruin. I’d rather get her some red ballet flats.
We’d made plans with Pete and Sally to go out to eat. We were meeting them at 7:00 at the new Kumori at Palms Crossing. Although the service was kind of slow we gave them some slack since it was newly open. I love hanging out with Pete and Sally. We have great conversations and joke around with our other married/babied friends, but I feel like we relate more to them.
Sun., Oct. 5th – I got up early and showered and went over to Mary’s to make the deviled eggs I was contributing for the bar-b-q Mario and Jorge decided to plan. Mario went all out by taking our bedroom TV out and everything. It was a really nice, relaxing day. I love spending time with family. The burgers were delicious and so was everything else. We even did our Christmas gift exchange pickings that day. Since I was outside most of the day I, once again, didn’t get any of my housework done. I was in a frenzy trying to get everything ready for the next day, make sure kids are bathed and that I had lunch packed for myself. Mario was still outside drinking with Jorge and Adan and got mad when I asked him to install the new shower head. I hate when he gets like that. He did it so unwillingly that he broke one of the attachments. Grr.
It was hard getting to sleep as it is that night and then Aly woke up with leg cramps. I was so exhausted I was dreading going to work the next morning.
Mon, Oct. 6th – I prayed all the way to work that it would be a good day, and it was! We had a guest speaker so it was much quieter. I got all the books out of the book drop and sorted them out by section to get them ready for check-in. The system was slow, but I started checking in after advisory (8:45) and finished by 9:45. I got everything shelved by 11:30ish. Mrs. Ruiz helped, of course, and when we were done we just sat and talked, for once! We went to lunch and then came back and shelved some more then fixed the kids’ team numbers on their check-out accounts. I actually had time at the end of the day to organize and tidy up.
Although work wasn’t too stressful, I was sure stressed when I got home. As soon as I walked through the door Mom started complaining about wanting me to drive her to McAllen. I wanted to just get home and relax. I looked around and noticed all my laundry had been neatly hung and folded. I asked Mom, “You didn’t have to wash my clothes, but thank you so much.” She gets a funny look on her face and asks, “They weren’t washed yet?” I felt like screaming and laughing hysterically. There I am removing dirty clothes from hangers and unrolling dingy socks.
When I was finally done I unwillingly packed the kids up in the truck, homework and all. Eenan was throwing fits left and right about his homework and, even though Alaethia sits between the boys in her car seat, they kept bothering each other and yelling. Eventually Alaethia would join them.
I can laugh now about what I’m going to say next, but at the time it was terrifying. I had my bag on the arm rest between the two front seats and once when I braked hard my bag fell like a stone on the window controls, which are on the center console. Eenan’s window started rolling down—only I didn’t know this—and he started screaming his head off. All I hear is rustling of papers, the blowing wind and the worst thought floods over me: Eenan’s flown out the open door.
I’m freaking out, yelling, “What happened?! Why’s Eenan screaming?!” and Jaylen screams, “Eenan’s window’s down!”
I roll the window back up and ask Eenan, “WHY do you have to scream like that?”
“Because it scares me, that’s why!”
These kids are going to give me a heart attack.
Mom said she’d finish filling up my truck for taking her over there and who would turn down free gas? It took $15 to finish filling up my truck, for the cheap price of $2.84! Mom also treated us to dinner—botanas from El Pato—which took 30 minutes to wait for. We ate dinner when we got home and I got the boys into the shower as soon as we were done. I told them to do me the favor of NOT soaking the whole bathroom with the new shower head and it’s the first thing they did. I’d already had it for the day that I yelled at them and sent them to bed right after their showers at 7:46pm without the TV timer (which they absolutely need in order to get to sleep). They were asleep within half an hour. I hated myself for yelling at them, especially because I got a pain in my belly right afterwards, but what else can I do. I try breathing techniques to calm down. I hardly ever spank them (Mario says that’s the problem, but I don’t like spanking). I figured the next day would be better. I did laundry that night and decided to fold/hang everything the next day. I bathed myself and Aly and then we had a snack and went to bed.
Tues., Oct. 7th – This was another good day at work. Our system was still slow but I set a routine for myself and got everything done by 10:30. A few subs were actually sent to help for once so that helped immensely, too. Mary let me know she’d set up a consultation at Pena Eye Institute for Mario for the next day. He let me know that he and Jorge would still be working on that house in Rio Grande so he wouldn’t make it.
