The 8th grade kids that are usually at the library during 1st period for yearbook got ahold of a kindergarten yearbook. Most of them look exactly the same as they did back then. Too cute. They were all freaking out seeing each other.

I had a never-ending amount of books today. We had regular Reading Renaissance+2 classes+slow internet=headache. I felt like I didn’t do anything all day because I was checking in books all day.

A substitute actually went in to help and Mrs. Ruiz, my life-saver, showed up as well. Mrs. Vela had left some mail out in the open so I put it away in case any of the kids decided to grab anything. She came to my desk asking if I’d seen it and I said yes and took it out of the drawer. She said “What am I going to do without you?” She told me about the conversation she and the principal had the morning before. He told her he’d been angry at her last week for her not convincing me to stay. She told him that as an employer, yes she was pissed off, but as a mother she completely understood where I’m coming from. That’s why she’s one of the best bosses I’ve ever had.

Lunch came around and Mrs. Ruiz and I ordered from Starlight Burger next door. She picked it up and I went to clock out. It was such a great meal. I hadn’t had my morning granola bar so I was starving. When it was time to go back we checked in more stuff and then waited for Kassy and Glenda so we could glue more banners on the computers in the 7th grade hall this time. I’d been dreading doing it since I started making the banners–not just because of the walking killing my feet but I always feel awful interrupting instruction. It takes a while to capture the kids’ attention and just one interruption sends them into a frenzy and you have to do the whole thing all over again. Kassy and the other kids made it tolerable and it went by fast again. I had enough time to go back and shelve a few more books. Mrs. Ruiz had already shelved most of the cart by the time I got back—she’s amazing. I need to get her a nice card or gift before I leave. There’s nothing money can buy that can show her how grateful I am for her friendship.

I went to Vero’s office right when I clocked out to set up a day off for the next day. I signed the paperwork and noticed she had a bunch of stuff for sale that this organization leaves at her office. I ordered the Constellation Sea Turtle I’d wanted for Alaethia and it was only $17! I’d seen it in the Parenting magazine and was hoping to find it for Alaethia to see if it’ll help her sleep in her room. I talked with Vero a while and before I realized it, it was already 3:17! That’s around the time I’m already getting to the boys’ school. I rushed (safely) to the school, picked them up, got home and they did their homework. Eenan had lost his Math workbook a few days before and thankfully his teacher’s letting him have a new one. He’s still grounded from video games the rest of the week for being irresponsible, though. He didn’t complain. He’s maturing; he doesn’t fight me about discipline anymore and when the little ones are acting up (especially Jaylen) he’ll tell them to behave and listen. Aww. My big boy!

Mario and I went to order Aly’s Care Bear birthday cake at the bakery as soon as he got home. I saw one of my students there. When we got home I made dinner. Mary had brought some Burger King so we hardly ate from the food I made. At least Mario had lunch for the next day.

All the running around was really taking a toll on my pregnant body. My boobs hurt, I had a pain right under my belly (for sitting too long, maybe?) and m feet hurt and feel bruised because of my stupid brown Mary Janes. I just wanted to sit and prop my feet up but I had a lot to do before bed. I got the boys to bathe, Alaethia fell asleep, and I finally got to have some much-deserved, long-awaited alone time with Mario.

Tues., Jan. 13th – I promised myself that I was going to conjure up the courage to tell Mrs. V. that I turned in my resignation for the 23rd instead of the 30th. As soon as she came in I followed her around, but she started talking about other things and then the reading period started so I didn’t have a chance till later. Once advisory finished I took a deep breath, turned in my chair and got up to speak to her…and the phone rings. It was already in her office, so I stayed where I stood to give her privacy. Who else was it but the principal?! I hoped upon hope that he wouldn’t tell her what day I was leaving; I wanted to tell her myself. I tried not to listen to her conversation but it’s hard accomplishing that since she has a loud voice and we’re only separated by a wall. It sounded like the principal was asking her why she let me quit LOL. Once she was off the phone I told her and she took it well. Or so, that’s how she made it seem externally. You never know how bad she wanted to strangle me inside.

I started on all the work she’d thought up for me before I left the position. I also started cleaning out my drawers and trying to organize the binder where I kept all my notes and so on. During last period Kassy came over to help me hotglue some banners onto the computers in the 8th grade hall. We picked up Luis on the way (he’d been kicked out of his class) and he helped us out. We did the whole hall in half an hour.

I don’t think I saw Mario at all that day. It was Jorge’s birthday, so he stayed at his house drinking because Jorge and Adan did that for his birthday. *rolls eyes* I told him if he drove home drunk and killed someone I’d kill him myself.

Wed., Jan 14th – I had another long day at work so I planned to do nothing all evening. I just wanted to get home and veg out on the couch after helping the boys with their homework. But nope. Big Mario already had the pit smoldering with mesquite and Mario joined him when he got home from work. We were having yet another impromptu bar-b-q, although I really can’t call them impromptu anymore because ever since Mario created that whole outdoor living room under the Party Porch he and Big Mario are having bar-b-q’s almost daily.

Mario’s aunt and uncle came over to visit, so I had to go out there and say hello, of course. I had no idea Mario’s Tia Marta was absolutely terrified of cats. She’d scream and jump every time she saw one! She even ran to their suburban when they were leaving and jiggled the door handle desperately until her husband unlocked the door because Ash and Alidocious were chilling out under the truck. I’d never seen anything like that.

Aide, Adan, Belle and later Jason, Mirella and Brianna came over. I chilled out with Adan, Aide and Bell for a while when it was just them visiting and then the girls all came inside. Mom of course followed. I felt awful about it, but I took shower while Aide was watching the babies. She insisted through my protests, though. We sat and watched TV when I got out of the shower and since the babies were getting fussy she left home. I started blow drying and straightening my hair while Alaethia watched a bit of Noggin. Brianna came in and started playing with Alaethia and then got tired and asked to have a cup of Ramen Noodles (at 10:15!). It was okay with her mom so I made it. Just as I was certain I’d pass out from exhaustion Mirella came in for her and they left. Then Aly and I finally went to bed.

I don’t remember much of what we did throughout the day on Sunday since I didn’t leave a note for myself like I usually do. We might have gone to Target and Walmart. I think this is the day we bought Alaethia’s bedroom rug from Walmart. It looks so girlie now, with just that change. I think it was also the day I went through a box of my 80’s sheets and found some Care Bear curtains I’d completely forgotten about. Her room looks almost complete :).

I do remember clearly that I picked the wrong time to start trying to wean Alaethia from her ½ milk, ½ water cups at night. She still wakes up at least once a night, especially now that she’s sleeping in our bed with us since we moved her crib/daybed into her own room. When the crib was in our bedroom she’d sleep in it all night. Well, when she does wake up she only wants milk. So I water it down because I fear for her teeth. She’ll inspect the cup and shake it because she knows what I’m up to. She stares at it to check if it’s white and will drink it if she sees that it is. If it’s too watered down she’ll throw it at us, literally.

So this would be the first night in a while that I’d try only water. We were in bed by 10:30 but I stayed up with her till 12am. She woke up again at 2:30 for a cup and screamed her head off until I gave in and gave her the half-and-half. I didn’t go back to sleep till 4:20 and the alarm went off an hour later. I still tried getting up and getting ready but nope, I couldn’t do it. I decided I wouldn’t torture myself that day. I needed to use up my sick days anyway.

Man, I’ve got my work cut out for me. I need to wean her off her sippy cup at night, convince her to start sleeping through the night in her bedroom, and DUN DUN DUN: potty training! All before Emily gets here. Omg.

I used my extra “day off” wisely. I caught up on some cleaning and finished up with laundry. Aside from being a packrat with papers it takes me forever to put my laundry away because it’s so much and Alaethia’s stuck to me like a leech right now. Mario and I really have to do some Spring Cleaning and go through our closet to get rid of clothes we don’t wear. I’m kind of hoping to do this after I have Emily so I can see what fits and what doesn’t. Getting rid of all my maternity clothes will create extra space on “my side”, too.

After I picked the boys up I left the kiddos with Mom while I went to meet Mary in downtown McAllen to start buying stuff for Alaethia’s party. I found light blue table cloths, Care Bear pencils, and Care Bear cake plates. All for about $6. Mary contributed some cute beaded necklaces for the girl bags and some little wind-up cars for the boy ones. We looked around some more and Mary found some cute little lilac glass jars and resin ballerina babies for my baby shower centerpieces. We went across the street and I found Care Bear plushes I wanted to use for centerpieces at Alaethia’s party. I actually bought four 12″ Care Bears that I thought of using as centerpieces but putting a tag on that said those were for Alaethia, but I thought that would be tacky. I kept those for Alaethia as a gift instead and bought 4 smaller Care Bear cubs for the centerpieces. They were only $4 each. As I was driving off I instantly regretted not getting more of the cubs. Oh well, I’d just come back later.

I rushed straight home and started getting ready for the next day. Ugh. It’s back to work tomorrow.