Throwback

I hated getting pictures done. It meant foam curlers, blech. If it wasn't curlers it was a tiny hot curling iron- I don't know which was worse. Mom had the blue eyeshadow and my dad had hair!

My sisters and I are all older and have different names nowadays- all of us mother's in our own rights. I love that we only have to be in each other's company to revert back to these same little girls- yelling, fighting and teasing. We will always be there for each other and that's a great feeling. 

Maybe He's Mine?

This kid might be starting to look like me.... finally!

Tres Meses

You are a daredevil. You like when we bounce you on the bed and also when your dad decides to scare the shiz out of me and toss you in the air. You love to see the adorable little guy in the mirror and laugh like a fool when you sit and talk to him. 

We used the stroller for the first time to take you for a walk... you lasted about five minutes before you passed out :) Your dad, unfortunately, was right and your poor little nose was frozen by the time we got home.

You and Randy are still deciding if you like each other or not... but he sleeps in your room every night and barks when you cry so I think he is leaning towards keeping you. You talk a lot and sometimes it does sound like you say, "What?!" "Maaaaaaahhhhhhhhhm" and "Whoah!" 

 We went to Dallas to visit your new cousin Gavin and I was amazed how well you did on the plane. You sat on my hip in the carrier through the whole airport and never cried once... Well maybe once when you were hungry- but that kid in the back screamed the whole time so I think you are ok. 

When we got to Dallas we seen your beautiful little cousin Gavin- He weighed 8 pounds, that's bigger than you but he looked so small compared to your chunky butt.

Day 2 at the hospital with Aunt Becky and Uncle Mike was an adventure. You pooped ALL over yourself and since mom forgot your extra outfit... we had to steal an infant t-shirt from the bassinet in the room. While you are a handsome devil, you are not a newborn size anymore my friend. 

Papa Sandoval says you look like the China Nite guy... he's a butt.

You are 14+ pounds of lovin' and 23+ inches. You are holding your head up like a champ and we can sit you up in your Boppy or on the couch. I'm scared you are teething but you are probably just a'droolin' fool. You have had to wear a bib for about a week cause you are drippin' like a faucet. You have discovered your fingers and get quite hypnotized by them. The Cookie Monster that your dad got you after your shots is your favorite, you like to gum on his furry hand and try to fit his eyeballs in your little mouth. 

All in all, you are great :)

Shots! Shots! Shots!

Before I was a mom someone yelling SHOTS only  meant one thing:

Now, sadly, it means something completely different. At Chancho's two month appointment he got his first set of immunizations. He did so well with the heel sticks and blood draws that I figured it would be just the same... It was not :(

Little chunk before his shots

Did all the regular stuff when we first got in. Stripped down and got weighed, 12 lbs 10 oz. Stretched out on the table, 23 inches. Measured his cabezon, etc. After Dr. MacGregor came in and seen him, answered all of our questions, told us we were doing a great job and kissed Dom goodbye, the trouble started. 

The two medical assistant's came in and layed him down on the table. He did really good drinking the Hib vaccine- this kid'll eat anything- so he was all smiles and giggles. They had three shots, one combined and two singles, to give him. They stretched his chubby legs and hit him all at the same time. Bam, Bam, Bam... 

For about two seconds I thought he didn't even notice- then the scream that broke my heart started. 

Dom is a chill little kid, he fusses in the afternoon if he gets too tired and the only time he really cries is when he is really hungry- Until this day I had never heard him scream. 

As the tears formed in my eyes and my heart ached for my son, the two MA's backed away and let me comfort him. I scooped him up immediately and just rocked him back and forth. I felt awful for being the one to bring pain to him, even though I know it's for his own good. 

He did so well on the trip home and was his normal little self, until the Tylenol we had given him before his appointment wore off. Then he started to fuss and squirm and cry these little mewling cries- Poor guy. It was a rough night- no more screams but lots of discomfort on his end. 

The next day it was as if nothing had happened- sunshine and smiles all day. I'm happy that he had no adverse reactions to the vaccinations. I won't feel entirely comfortable taking him anywhere until he has his complete series, but I feel better knowing that we've begun the process. 

Next time my son gets his shots, Mommy might have to take A shot to get through it.

Nine to Five

I love being a nurse- for once in my life I feel like I have a career instead of just a job.... and I have had plenty of jobs.

I started working at 15 for the Snowie stand owned by my friend's parents, it was the best job. I got to read books all day in a little shaved ice shack and got as many free Snowie as I wanted. Plus I worked 5 hour shifts and could ride my bike to work, what's not to love? Oh yeah, getting paid minimum wage and having dyed red hands all summer.

At 16 I worked as a hostess for a Chinese restaurant that I had been going to since I was born. When I applied the owner wrote something in Chinese on my application. After I was hired, one of the waitresses told me what it said, "Cute, can work up front".

During school I got work release to work for a friend's mom. She owned her own company and made lingerie, underwear and swimsuits. Probably not the most appropriate work environment for a high schooler but I learned a lot from my experience there- not always good things.

I was also taking pharmacy technician classes at the time and once I graduated I got offered a job with Walgreen's- the place I had finished my externship with. It was perfect timing because the year I graduated was the same year that Layton, Clinton and South Ogden Walgreen's opened. I worked there for the next 8 years; full-time, part-time and then as needed. It was awesome experience and it put me through college- I can't ask for more.

I graduated, the first time, in 2004 with my Bachelor's in Health Administration- I worked at Primary Children's Medical Center. All of the people I worked with had clinical degrees: nursing, respiratory therapy, etc.... They also got paid 2-3 times more than I did. So.... I applied to nursing school. I could get my nursing degree, come back to my job and make more money. At least that was the idea anyway.

Once I started working as a nurse though, things quickly changed. I have loved nursing more than any other job that I've had. Things are messy and sometimes people are mean- but they are also scared and angry and anything that I can do to make the situation better is so great. Armando asks me all the time, "How could you do that?" I just tell him, "Somebody has to"

I've worked in a rehabilitation center and now in a surgical center and I've loved learning new skills and have made such great friends. In a field where it is 95% female it can be very difficult to go to work every day- Females = Drama. But, when you work with great people it is awesome to go to work every day.

I haven't worked at Legacy since 2012 but still get together with the girls there every few months. I can't wait to see what I'm doing in another five or ten years.