Category: Photos

Mother’s Day Weekend

My Mother’s Day weekend started a bit early on Friday, with Emmos presenting me with a beautiful magnet frame for my fridge .

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We had movie night that night, and I managed to fall asleep during the latest Star Wars movie. The parts I saw were great tho!

I skipped yoga the next day (after much rolling around in my sheets debating how long to “sleep in”) but I eventually got up and got ready…only to sit at the kitchen table drinking coffee 😆 .

I took Emmos with me and we searched all over for the small Peppa plushes for Charlee. They were out everywhere. But we did find this:

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For $1.00!! We couldn’t believe it. We searched the isles for more, but again, nothing 😕 .

We did all our shopping and errands and then we got home and I got the 3 little ones ready to go to Charlee’s party. Before we got ready to leave, Julien runs to me and says, “Happy Mother’s Day!!”:

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I immediately choked up; I felt overwhelmed and just surprised! I put it on the fridge proudly, next to Emmos’. He brought me a little poem, too, with handprints and a painting of a vase with flowers in it (the buds were his little hands!), but I told him it should be for his 1st Mom. I didn’t know how to take his reaction; I didn’t want to offend him, but I figured she should have something, too, from him. I know I would want to. I did take pictures of him with the poem and painting and I said, “There! Now we’ll both have one!”

So after adjusting my mascara and swallowing down the lump in my throat, we were off 🙂 .

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Aren't they just beautiful?!

They had so much fun at Sally’s! She always comes up with cute games for them and they love it. And Charlee looked adorable, of course!

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I had a great time, too, catching up with Sally. I love spending time with her!

We got home and just as I changed into my lazy clothes, I get a message on Facebook stating that I won a Mother’s Day contest pack from Xquinkles Snack Land!! I never win those social media contests so I was thrilled, and hello?! Who wouldn’t be thrilled over this:

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I took half the brood with me; the others stayed home playing video games with Dad 🙂 .

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Then we got home and watched The Jungle Book–which I passed out during as well.

The next morning was officially Mother’s Day 🙂 . Jorge woke me up with smooches and told me to stay in bed, so I obliged 😆 . Then he and the girls woke me up and I was greeted by these beautiful, drowsy faces:

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My love and the kiddos didn’t make breakfast that morning, but he did bring the next best thing: menudo and barbacoa!!

So we ate, and then I was allowed to lounge around all morning until we got ready to return some stuff (can you believe the tunic I’m wearing in the photo was $5??) and then we went to visit Gramma:

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She was doing good, thank God :). She’s recently moved to a new facility, per her request, which shocked us all. So that only means she really didn’t like it at the previous place before 🙁 .

We got home and Aunt Nora and Linda came to visit. Then we lazied around the rest of the day. It was just awesome, and low-key with all the kids, Mom and my love. John was around for a bit, but disappeared to study. We watched Grey’s Anatomy with the kids the rest of the evening until I passed out on the sofa.

As for gifts, I did a satisfying amount of clothes shopping 🙂 . Plus my love got me this:

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Tamarindo Apple With Chamoy Gummy Bears

I had such a great day yesterday, that I actually didn’t mind having to wake up at 5am this morning 🙂 . And dropping the kids off was a piece of cake on our way to school/work and the day went by fast and was a breeze! I even applied for a grant (with my co-worker’s advice, of course!)

ALL THE EVENTS

Late March/early April were huge for us at work. In our usual manner, we planned 3 large events in the course of 2 weeks; 2 of them being 3 days apart.

I was stressed, especially with Taste McAllen, which is my baby. We had lots of changes and this new concept was being unveiled for the 1st time, ever. I was praying for the best!

The day of the event just so happened to be the HOTTEST day this spring so far! I couldn’t believe our luck. I felt so nervous and just unprepared, even though we’d stayed late Tuesday and Wednesday to make sure we had absolutely everything we’d need. It’s just my anxious personality, I guess!

We were at the event site since very early, which is probably why I felt like I had heat exhaustion at least twice 😳 . I’m pretty sure my boss had it. And even though we were missing a canopy at registration and our registration staff got all messed up (I ended up at registration!), I have to say, thanks to everyone’s help, the event was pretty close to amazing, if I do say so myself!

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The VIP Area!

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The Main Stage

(Didn’t get to snap a photo of Ram Danesse singing because this was when I got stuck at registration. Meh.)

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The Chef's Fire Pit

So sad I didn’t get to try anything from the Pit!

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The Chefs in Action

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The Crowd!
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Dairy Queen!
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The Lunch Box on 10th
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With my Loves!! It was so HOT!!
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Emmos!
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So lovely! I was so proud!
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Macroon Ice Cream Sandwich from CC's Sweets!
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The Chef's Fire Pit at Night
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Chef Larry in Action!
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House.Wine & SALT

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Steve Molina at Stage 2

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See? What did I tell ya?? It was awesome!! Worth the blood, sweat and tears 😆 !!

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The VIP Section at the end of the night.

The next evening was Music After Hours & Craft Fair. I took a few photos for the Food Park Facebook page and went to Kohl’s to get some jeans for the BBQ the next day (priorities). Lisa told me she and her mom were heading to the food trucks so I rushed back, but I was too late, they were gone. I was kidless, Jorge was still working and it started becoming cold so I got some nachos from Planet Munchies and went home. Since the BBQ was happening at the Food Park, the trucks parked right next to the curb at Archer Park. It gave it such an awesome feel!

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Food Trucks and Crafts

Jorge and I hung out at home and then we were up bright and early the next chilly morning! Everyone that had arrived when I did were all buzzing around, cleaning, getting things ready. Then it was time to go to our posts. Mine was at the judges’ room, like it has been the past 2 years. I like it there: air conditioning, time goes by fast, the girls and I are like well-oiled machines AND we get first dibs at pan de campo :love: !

I didn’t get to get photos of the event, or the food since we were busy, but I got a pic with Michelle and Rosie when I finally made it outside.

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We cleaned up and the event was over so I went home and Jorge got home from work and we went to Feldman’s to get some drinks and watch Grey’s Anatomy 😀 .

Our boss took us to breakfast on Monday morning and I got home to these beautiful, adorable faces!

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We had Latina Hope Wednesday and EZ, Michelle and I went to Red Lobster afterwards.

Jorge and I went to the Lunchbox on 10th on Thursday, one of our exhibitors from Taste McAllen.

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Friday was our golf tournament. I got to be in the Margarita tent this time and it was a blast! It drizzled awhile and became really humid but it was a great day once the sky became overcast.

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Chamberitas
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Near the La Costa tent, too!
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The girls and me! Don't mind my crazy bun!

It was a great time and whizzed by. I got my dinner burger to go once we were done cleaning up and picked up a botana (per Mom’s request) on the way home 🙂 .

It’a always nerve-wracking before our events (especially when it falls directly under me!) but the end result is usually pretty badass.

That One Time I Had Breast Reduction Surgery – Day 48

I hadn’t done a day-by-day update as of my most recent doctor’s appointment last week since there wasn’t much of a change. I guess I can update when there’s a more significant change from now on.

I finally finished my 3rd round of antibiotics last night (Bactrim). I’ve still been wearing a lycra/spandexy sports bra only when I absolutely need to (like to work, or grocery shopping). I have left the house without a bra (to the bank drive-thru, to the corner store with Jorge–but I didn’t get down, heh). NEVER in my LIFE have I ever had the nerve or confidence to leave the house without a bra on, not even to check the mail 😆 !
The rough, dark scab I had on my left “T” intersection fell off today! The triangular area is slightly red, but not scary red, and very soft to the touch. The scab on the right had already fallen off (I hadn’t even noticed because it wasn’t as severe as the one on the left). So now both “T” intersections match! Now I’m just waiting for the vertical scars to look slightly less pink. And around my right nip, too 😕 ? I just noticed that about 2 nights ago.

I’ve noticed that my boobies have begun to “drop” a little more, which means they aren’t as swollen and are settling into place. The weird points (dog ears?) that I was really upset about at the end of each incision near my underarms seem to have smoothed out a bit more, perhaps due to the “dropping”?

I still have redness/sometimes almost purplish in color spots on the “bottom” of each breast where the last bout of irritation happened, but I read that it’s due to circulation (or lack thereof) 😕 ? I’ve got a lot of scarring left from the skin irritation/rash due to the steri-strip tape, so I have to wait to get over that, too.

I won’t post a full-on boob pic, but I just wanted to show why you need to be absolutely sure you aren’t allergic to any type of adhesives/meds. I wish I had 😕 . This is what I’ve had to deal with in terms of recovering from the surgery AND the allergic reaction 🙁 .

Steri-Strip Allergic Reaction - Recovery Over 6 Weeks
Steri-Strip Allergic Reaction – Recovery Over 6 Weeks

All in all, after all these weeks, I feel pretty good, thank God. I can drive over any size dip/pothole and not feel immense pain. That darn seat belt STILL irritates, me though, so I still use my trusty pillow.

I can’t wait to be able to sleep on my stomach! I’ve found myself turning on my side in the middle of the night and I catch myself. I still have the “pillow wall” up between Jorge and I that he hates, but he flails his arms in the middle of the night and I’m terrified he’ll accidentally press down on my chest 🙁 . He already did it once, the one time I removed the wall!

Keeping my fingers crossed that this little “T” area heals well.