Category: Yay!

I had my 28 week appointment this morning. Let me start by saying that I go to probably the most ghettolicious medical practice in all of the Valley. I don’t mean the facility itself, I mean some–okay, most–of the people who go there.

There was a young girl who was giving her 3 month old Gatorade. When I first saw the bottle she was feeding the baby I thought it was Pedialyte but then I saw her refill the bottle with orange Gatorade from a Gatorade bottle. I sure hope the doctor or nurses saw that and told her something about it. I mean, c’mon?!

There was also a woman who I overheard telling another woman (the evil Substitute that Eenan has had twice coincidentally) that her friend’s husband was getting out of prison in 2008, and that her own husband should be out this January. This she’s telling to a total stranger and letting the whole lobby overhear. I was so sleepy this morning since I didn’t get to sleep much last night (woke up 3 times to pee!) but this woman’s high-pitched voice kept me awake.

She was letting her 1 year old crawl around the germ-infested office and when she finally decided to pay attention to him (right around the time he put a leaf or something he found on the welcome mat in his mouth) she called screamed for him. When he didn’t pay attention after 3 screams she raises up a pouch of some sort, probably a foldable rain coat, and TOSSED IT AT HIS HEAD! The little boy just sat there, stunned as hell and what did she do? Cackled and nudged her friend to tell her how funny it was. I don’t even want to know how this woman treats her kids at home.

Anyway, I saw a friend I met there a few weeks ago, Aracely. We spoke momentarily and she told me she’d just been told she was having a girl, which is what she and her husband wanted since they already have a 2 year old boy. I told her how I had a feeling I was having a girl and had already been told twice that the baby was a girl, but I wanted to be told just one more time. She brought me a Chinese Calendar from her car and sure enough, it said I was having a girl. This calendar was different though–not like the one I’d been using before (which said I’d be having a boy this time O_o).

She was called in again and I waited for mmm…about 2 hours to be seen. I weighed 131.0 this time, which confirms that the scale was wrong at my last visit and that I did not gain 5 lbs. in one week! I was so relieved. Blood pressure was fine and so was my urinalysis, except for the tad bit of glucose that was floating around in there again. I’m noticing that everytime I drink chocolate or strawberry milk before an appointment there’s glucose in my pee and I have to get my sugar checked. It was fine–at 104 but I’m going to make it a point not to drink chocolate or strawberry milk (or Fruity Pebbles!) before appointments anymore. I hate being poked!

Dr. C. gave me an ultrasound to check how Alaethia’s doing. Her head’s much bigger than 3 weeks ago and she’s officially turned into the headdown position, just like her brothers did at 7 months. That’s what she must have been doing that night I didn’t fall asleep till 3:30am! That also explains the huge kicks I’d been feeling in the ribs.

She’s growing perfectly, he said. He was worried that my placenta may be blocking the cervix, but upon closer inspection he said it wasn’t. I hope he’s right! He also confirmed for the 3rd time that she’s a girl and gave me the okay to buy pink things!! He didn’t give me a sono picture again, but at least I saw it for myself this time!

I came home and cleaned up a little and went to pick Jaylen up (5 minutes late because for the first time ever I lost track of time!). I cleaned some more and then Mayra showed up :). It was so nice catching up with her and just talking about everything like the good ol’ school days; husbands, messy kiddos, and other gossip ;). She was kind enough to tell me that I didn’t look “huge” at all, even though I feel like I am LOL. I can’t even walk straight anymore from the extra girth.

I hope we can chill out again soon and catch a movie or something. I miss my friends!

Eenan has UIL practice tomorrow–I’m hoping his coach finally decides exactly when she’s going to have them. She actually called this time, which I appreciate but God, her meets are all over the place! I’m just glad she won’t be having them in the morning anymore. Or not having them, more like it.

Today feels really low-key and just…relaxing. Jaylen did his homework with no complaints, Eenan doesn’t have homework, two of my favorite shows (ANTM and Biggest Loser) are on tonight, and I fully plan on finally making my lasagna as soon as I’m done with this entry.

P.S. Yay for Democrats taking over the House! C’mon Virginia! I have faith in you!

How strange that Rumsfeld stepped down out of all days and all of a sudden the cheap $1.95-1.99 gas that had been the trend the past two weeks up until yesterday suddenly jumped up to $2.09. Hmm? I wonder how this next year will pan out?

My stove is fixed! In a little over 24 hours the problem was resolved, thank God.

Thank my Dad-in-law actually, who, along with his friend Ricky, took apart the back of my beautiful stove and figured out that the prongs of the electrical plug weren’t correctly coiled around this connector thing which burned and caused a short. It burned.

One of the things I fear most is a fire; a fire while I’m home alone and especially a fire during the night, where we, God forbid, might not hear the smoke detector going off. To think that the wires that burned could have sparked the wall and caused a huge fire scares the hell out of me. Thankfully it contained itself, probably because of the metal cover.

They assessed the damage last night while the boys and I ate at Mary’s and was kind enough to send over a plate of dinner for Mario, too. We’d need a new plug and that connector. Mary brought them over today after work and I was dreading to know how much it all cost. To my relief everything came out to $17. Praise the Lord.

Tomorrow, all will hopefully be back to normal. I’ll still be very cautious and keep an ear out, just in case though. I really want some lasagna, so I might just whip some up tomorrow while Mayra visits :). I can’t wait to catch up on the happenings of the last few weeks.

I should shower and get to bed. My back is aching. I did the rest of the housework I didn’t get to yesterday, so that might be why I feel so tired. I’m feeling sloth-like lately.

P.S. I made time to vote today, which was an adventure all on it’s own. Mom didn’t get to vote, which totally sucked. John didn’t want to go so if Republicans stay in charge I’m blaming him. I keed, I keed. Only because he bought me a cinnamon roll at his work :).

P.P.S. We totally have to go to Donna’s Corn Maze! I’ve wanted to do this since last year, when I first heard about it. It sounds like so much fun. Plus free roasted sweet corn and s’mores? AWESOME.

I dropped the kids off at the usual time this morning. My UIL Boy, Eenan, happily went into his class, although he complains about having to go to school every morning because he says his teacher’s too mean. I call him my UIL Boy because he auditioned to be in UIL yesterday afternoon for storytelling (first time he stays after school, ever!) and he made it in! 9 kids out of 2nd and 3rd grade were chosen and Eenan was one of them. When I picked him up from auditioning yesterday he beamed while I talked to the teacher. She had nothing but good things to say about him. She gushed, “Oh my gosh, he’s going to do great! And that voice? He’s going to melt the judges!”

I dropped Jaylen off at his class next and his teacher calls me. She told me about how middle school kids go to their class to read to them and help them with work and that Jaylen and Brianna were chosen to go on a field trip to the movies and for pizza. She mentioned they’d leave on a bus and get dropped off at school and Jaylen starts freaking out about how he doesn’t want to go on a bus and wants me to go with him. He’s traumatized from the time they almost forced him into one the first week of school. He’s warming up to the idea though. I’m proud of him :). I’m a little nervous about him going on a bus myself, especially with middle school kids (though I’m sure adults will accompany them) because these days you just can’t trust anybody but I’ll make sure to talk to him about strangers, not letting anyone touch you in the bathing suit areas and staying with his group at all times. Yes, I’m addressing the 2nd one already. I’ve heard too many horror stories on the news lately.

I got home extra late this morning since Jaylen was nervous about the whole field trip thing and wanted me to stick around a little longer. I came home to wake up Mario and then left to my doctor’s appointment.

They gave me my sugary, coma-inducing, orange Fanta-like drink to check my glucose. My nurse, Laura, told me it’s the equivalent of 2 1/2 Snickers bars and that one lady actually had to eat the bars instead of taking the drink since she puked. It felt horrible going down my throat, but I drank the whole thing (about 4 ounces). I had to wait an hour and then they’d draw my blood.

They took my vitals next. Weight was at 130.5 lbs. and my blood pressure was fine. Good. Then I gave my urine sample.

They called me into a room at 9:30 and the nurse tells me there’s good news and bad news.

Great. My first thought: The bad news is that telling only from my urine I’ve got diabetes. But the good news is that I don’t need insulin.

She says, “The bad news is Dr. C. isn’t here today. He has 5 patients in L&D. The good news is his assistant is here. Would you like her to see you?”

Relieved I say, “Yes!”

The Dr. comes in, Edith I think, and she asks me questions while Laura checks the baby’s heartbeat with a Dopplar. Her heartrate is at 154, aww :). I love that sound.

My due date is officially set for February 2nd instead of January 28th. She checks my ears, nose and mouth and asks if I have any questions or concerns. I tell her how I’ve been feeling a tightening around my abdomen that makes it hard to breathe sometimes and wanted to know if those were Braxton Hicks contractions. She says I shouldn’t be having them yet, it’s too soon. She asks how much water I drink; I say approximately 3 liters a day. She rules out dehydration and asks if I have a history of preterm labor. I tell her my experience with Jaylen’s pregnancy and says she’s going to give me another appointment for next week so that Dr. C can further evaluate me. I asked what was the most I was allowed to carry now, because I’m taking care of a baby, plus another cousin and my own two kids. She says she’ll allow 15 lbs., but that’s pushing it; she only recommends carrying 10 lbs. at most. She asks how much the baby weighs and I tell her 20 something pounds. She says, “Oh no, that’s too much. That’s probably also why you’re feeling this pressure in your stomach. It’s your body’s way of letting you know you’re overdoing it. It’s not good that you’re also watching two more kids than your own; I know how stressful two alone can be. I suggest you start making other arrangements as soon as possible.”

I already let everyone know that this week will be the last week I’ll be babysitting. It broke my heart to tell Yadira, especially since she’s got so many things weighing on her shoulders right now, but I had to. Now I just need to take it easy and worry about not stressing out with my two boys. I hope this isn’t the beginnings of preterm labor. It’s got to be stress or something. One thing’s for sure though: I need to pay very close attention to Alaethia’s kicks and do Kick Counts every night, just in case.

I have the rest of the day free. It feels kinda good :). I need to pick up Eenan and Brandon in half an hour and the rest of the day is mine to clean and spend time with my kiddos. Yay :).

[edit] I just won tickets from Hot Kiss 106.3 (while waiting for the kids after school) to the Scream Factor X Haunted House! I’ve never won anything from a radio station in my life. I’ve had it on that station all day, just because, and when they announced the number I said, “Eh, what the hell, I’ll give it a try.” I was even all confident to John to leave it on that station because I was going to win. I was caller number 3 first, and then number 10! *squeal*

I was reading the rules, and it says not recommended for pregnant women but we’re going on Family Night so I should be alright. If the kids get scared all they have to say is ‘Monster Be Good!’ and instead of being scary the monster will turn funny. I’ve wanted to go to this place since I first heard about it years ago. I’m so excited! [\edit]