Near Death Experience - At least the EMT's were cute!

Friday July 3 was not an ordinary day at our house, I had the day off from work becasue of the holiday the next day, I got up and went to Weight Watchers then to Starbucks with my friend and fellow WWer Emily.

Went home and decided that I would clean the house so that I could get it done and play the rest of the weekend!

Nothing unusual about this, I cleaned the downstairs did a couple loads of laundry and made breakfast - as I was getting ready to clean the downstairs bathroom and then make lunch for the kids I took a little break and sat on the couch for a minute, Joe had on Cake Boss so I took my break and watched a little bit. My right ankle was itching so I reached down to scratch it and all of a sudden my leg was bleeding, I am not talking a little blood I am talking spraying blood, like when you put a pin hole in a water balloon and there is the constant spray - THAT IS WHAT MY ANKLE WAS DOING!!

So I put my hand over the spray and told Joe, "get me something I need help" he looks over and FREAKS OUT, I mean FREAKS OUT....he runs to the kitchen to grab a towel and starts looking for the "cleaning rags" in the meantime my hand is not able to catch the streams of blood and there is now a puddle of blood on my carpet *few choice words from me about the carpet* and telling Joe to just bring me something.....he brought me a dishtowel - I apply pressure on the area it is still spraying it is now soaking through the dishtowel - I tell him I need another one, in the meantime Joe still FREAKING out grabs me another towel and then starts running from the living room to the kitchen (with his cell phone in his hand) saying "OH MY GOD, BABE ARE YOU ALRIGHT, OH MY GOD, WHERE IS THE PHONE" he did about 4 good laps before I said "Joe the phone is on the counter in the kitchen (where it always is) and you have your cell phone in your hand" He said "OH" and then grabs the phone and calls my mom - "TERRY YOUR DAUGHTER IS BLEEDING I MEAN REALLY BAD, WHAT SHOULD I DO, TERRY SHE IS REALLY BLEEDING....OK YES, OK YES, BYE"

He then says "I AM CALLING 911" I looked at him and said OK, meanwhile I am onto my 3rd dishtowel and have to go to the bathroom - I hop into the bathroom where I take the towel off the spray and not such a good idea - my bathroom looked like a crime scene - puddles of blood on the floor - which I was fine with since it wasn't my carpet.

Joe is on the phone with 911 the man is still FREAKING OUT...I am calm as can be -
"911 IS NOT ANSWERING WHAT THE HELL?" "YES HELLO - MY WIFE SHE IS BLEEDING AND IT WON'T STOP, OK HER NAME IS HOPE UM HOLD ON" he comes over to me I am looking at him "HOPE ARE YOU CONCIOUS?" which makes me CRACK UP! Joe to operator "YES SHE IS CONCIOUS - UM HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE BLOOD THINNERS DO YOU?"
me to Joe, "NO" this is through my laughing.
Joe to operator "OK YES, GIVES OUR PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS - YES, OK YES, OK THANK YOU" he hangs up and tells me that the EMTs are on the way my thought is YES I hope they are cute!!! He then calls my mom "TERRY THE EMTS ARE ON THE WAY - YOU SHOULD COME OVER IN CASE THEY HAVE TO TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL"
Then I take off the towel to assess the situation Joe immediatley tells me "DON'T LOOK AT IT - THEY SAID NOT TO LOOK AT IT'
Whatever - I looked still gushing......
The EMTs arrive about 10 minutes after Joe hung up - AND THEY WERE CCCUUUUTTTEEE!!! YAHOOOOO!!!!

There were 2 of them the REALLY cute one immediatley starts talking to Quentin and Adri the other one who was not as cute as the one talking to my kids, comes over to me, "what did you do?" I just laughed and said "Um I was scratching my ankle" By the time he took the towel off the bleeding had stopped - I have a vein (vericose - I think ) that appeared when I was pregnant with Adri that has not gone away apparently when I was scratching my ankle I punctured the vein which caused the gushing. The EMT said it happens sometimes - WTH?!?!
He offered me a band aide - and had me drink some juice as I was a little light headed from all the blood loss - I also had to sign a paper that stated they offered to take me to the hospital and I declined. Then told me that if it starts up again to give them a call and they would come back out if I couldn't get it to stop and off they went.

My mom shows up right after the EMTs leave and Joe tells her he is sorry for freaking out and having her come all the way across town - she just laughs. We watched a couple episodes of Cake Boss and then my mom went home - we went to the park for a picnic.

Never a dull moment at our house!!!

Just Call me ROCKY!!!!

Today on lunch I called to check in on Joe and see how things were going today. He has both kids home today as I thought that Quentin had pink eye but he actually is very irritated from the dust and ash that is in the air. I hate to say it but we need a good rain!

Joe asked me if I remembered punching him last night - I told him I did not. Apparently when he came home from work last night (it was 3:30AM) I punched him in his eye and then said "oh sorry" rubbed his face and went back to sleep. I mean I was totally cracking up when he told me this. I don't remember this at all.

Then the man says that his eye is bruised and going on and on - he even said that maybe we should go to counseling since we are experiencing domestic violence in our sleep.....LOL!

The funny thing is that when Joe first started working nights I did not sleep very well at all, I always heard him when he came home or would be up when he got home because I had heard a noise or something, I know silly but it is true. Now that I am used to him working nights for the past couple of years I totally sleep just fine, I can always hear my kids if they wake up but there are very few occasions that I hear Joe when he comes home, and gets into bed. I chuckle to myself sometimes when I get up for work and he is in bed, I think "when did he show up?" So I am not surprised that I didn't hear him last night either, I am surprised that I punched the poor boy. I just told him that I am sure he did something to deserve it.

Just call me Lady Luck

This weekend was almost perfect - the only reason it wasn't perfect was because nothing really is.

Saturday started out great both children slept in until 8AM - I made blueberry muffins, eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast. Once the kitchen was cleaned we (myself and the children) got ready to go to Target, the purpose of the trip was to get some baskets to organize some areas of the house, however I think that I only purchased one basket. I did get the bargain of the year (so far) this wool coat was marked down from $75.00 to $16.24 I didn't think twice about putting it in my cart!

Feeling GREAT about my new coat, we headed to the baby department. Adrianna is ready for an exersaucer so I thought I would check out what they had, we got the Jumperoo also on sale that day! As I was looking at the Jumperoo I glanced down the aisle that the binkies are on - THEY HAD THE BINKIES that I was looking for with a bright red sticker that said NEW ITEM. I about screamed I was so happy!! I purchased all 5 packages that they had!!

We finished up our trip to Target and decided to that it was time for lunch, we called to see if Joe was awake and if he wanted to go to lunch with us. We ended up going to LaCabana, which is our favorite place. As we headed downtown it occurred to me that LaCabana was on 4th Avenue, usually not a big deal however the Iditarod Sled Dog Race was starting on this day and they block 4th Avenue. With a little manoeuvring and driving down the wrong way on a couple of streets and sidewalks we made it - it was perfect too because the teams had to pass right by the restaurant, it was so beautiful outside that Quentin wanted to watch a couple of teams - so Joe and Adrianna went inside while Quentin and I watched the last 5 teams take off on their journey to Nome.

After lunch we decided that we needed to go to GCI, our cellular service carrier, and switch out our SIM cards. They are updating their service and have been requesting for people to come in a switch out the cards since October, we have drug our feet until receiving a text message that said if we didn't switch out our cards we would have an interruption in service. Joe waited in the car with both sleeping children and I went into to switch out the cards on our phones. Now usually I do things right away - however AM SO GLAD that I procrastinated. I waited in line and when it was my turn I gave the lady our phones and said we needed to switch out the SIMS. She smiled and said ok and thank you - as a thank you gift for the inconvenience of having to switch the cards I got to choose a prize for each number we had on our account. I got to choose two "gifts" The first ticket I chose was FREE CELLULAR SERVICE FOR ONE MONTH! I was happy with that choice - so as I reached in to choose my second "gift" as I was doing this I asked the girl what the gifts were - she said a little of everything, Airline miles, a 4wheeler, free service, free phones etc. So I pulled out the ticket and handed it to the girl it said FREE PHONES - now anyone who has cell phones knows this can be deceiving because they are usually cheap - so I was not as excited to see this prize. The girl says that they had not given many of the phones away so I should feel lucky - I asked her what phone it was, she said it was the Blackberry Pearl!!!!!!! I could not believe it I have been bugging Joe for this phone since Christmas but have been told no as they are $499.98 each - obviously way to expensive to pay for a dang phone. So imagine how STOKED I am that we won them! Since we have two numbers associated with our cell account we each got a new Blackberry!!!

So after spending 45 minutes in the store for a quick switch out - I get back in the car and Joe immediately says "what did you do?" I just looked at him and handed him the new phone - he didn't say anything and then looked at me I was totally CHEESING and said "it was FREE"

he was relieved that I didn't just drop $1000 for new phones.....

Anyway I just was on such a lucky streak on Saturday that I decided to purchase lotto tickets - we will see if my luck continues!!!

Is it because he doesn't have a uterus?

I have now been back at work for 2 months - my loving husband is the stay at home parent and is doing a good job taking care of the children.

I am frustrated however because when I was pregnant with Adrianna and we discussed this arrangement he said that I would be surprised with his domestic duties. This is the same man I have been married to for 8 years now and I don't think he possesses a domestic bone in his body. At any rate I was on maternity leave for 4 months and pretty much took care of the house as I had been doing with working and having 1 child, I didn't say anything becasue I was on leave and not working and it just seemed natural. During my time off I would tell Joe that this was his opportunity for OJT (on the job training) and the perfect time to get himself into a routine since I was home to help. He did not take advantage of this time so a month before I was to return to work I started saying that I would be happy to make a chore chart so that we could each have our specific duties and a day when they needed to be completed by, I thought it would also help to keep from one person getting frustrated with the other as long as our duties were being done,
he agreed to the chore chart -

We made the chore chart here is the run down:

HOPE'S WEEKLY CHORES:

• Laundry (1 or 2 loads each weekday night, including folding and put away)
• Change bedding on all beds - (every other weekend)
• Vaccuum and dust our bedroom -(Monday night)
• Swiffer and dust Quentin's bedroom -(Monday night)
• Vaccuum upstairs hallway -(Monday night)
• Vaccuum and dust downstairs -(Tuesday night)

This list does not include bathing the children each night and putting them to bed along with making dinner, cleaning the kitchen and packing lunches for the next day or grocery shopping and menu planning .

JOE'S WEEKLY CHORES:

• Clean Upstairs Bathroom - Full bathroom to be completed by Thursday
• Clean downstairs bathroom - 1/2 barh to be completed by Thursday
• Mop the kitchen floor -(Wednesday)
• Mop entryway floor - (Wednesday)
• Pick up Quentin from School - Tuesday - Thursday
• Take Quentin to speech - Monday and Wednesday

The only other thing that I have asked him to take care of is to pick up after himself (not an unreasonable request) during the day - ok more specifically put your breakfast/lunch dishes in the dishwasher, put the bottles that you have fed Adrianna with on the sink (so I can wash them at night).

I was a stay at home parent when Quentin was a baby until he was 19 months old. I was able to do everything - the only thing I asked him to do was an occasional Costco run because I hate Costco.

When I get home on any given day - I can tell exactly where in the house that Joe and Adrianna have been - as there is a bottle or blanket or jammies or some kind of evidence left in the area. The kitchen is a nightmare the counters have food or crumbs on them from where he did not wipe it down after he ate breakfast or lunch or snack - his dishes are in the sink not in the dishwasher the list goes on. I get dinner started and then my load of laundry and then go through and pick up after him from the day - the picking up takes all of about 10 minutes so I don't understand why it isn't done before I get home.

It is so frustrating because I am feeling that it is not fair for me to be at work all day long and then to come home to a mess that I have to pick up along with making time for my children who I have been away from all day and God forbid sit down and have a moment to myself for half a second before it is time to go to bed or move onto the next chore. I have also taken on the responsiblity of cleaning the bathrooms because they have yet to be done by Joe since I have been back at work.

I guess it is one of those things that I am choosing not to address and will just complain to myself (or my blog) about. I think that once we get a couple credit cards paid off I am going to arrange for a house keeper - we had one before Quentin was born and I LOVED IT!!!! The only thing that they don't do is the laundry which I am totally fine with that.

Until I get my housekeeper back the only sensible reason I can think of that he is unable to do chores and take care of the children at the same time is because he does not have a uterus.

Thank you for letting me vent!

February 13, 2001

Eight years ago today I woke up in Hawaii on my wedding day!!! Those that know the background know that this was an especially Special day. Like any bride I had the normal jitters, I had my mom with me and my friend Kathryn who lives in Hawaii helped out with the preperation for our day!

The morning started with breakfast in the hotel room - Joe, his sister and best man were getting ready somewhere else. Mom and I got our hair done at the salon in the hotel and then it was back to the room to get dressed, we only had 30 minutes before the Limo picked us all up to take us to the location where we would exchange our vows.

Once back in the room I did my makeup while mom got dressed, it was muggy that morning so we had the curtains and deck door open to get some air moving through the room. Mom was dressed and I finished putting on my face - it was time to get into my dress! By this time Joe's sister had come down and was taking pictures of me getting ready - what fun! So without divulging too much info there I was standing in my underware, bra, and panty hose - I am facing the window getting ready to pour into my dress and notice that on the deck at the hotel across from ours is an old man with binoculors totally watching us get dressed - I totally started laughing and finished getting dressed. Once everything was in place - I looked outside again and now the old man is clapping and giving me the thumbs up - I guess he approved!!

In the elevator on the way down to the lobby to see my groom for the first time, I totally lost it, it had been a very emotional time leading up to this day, at that moment I guess everything hit me that this was FINALLY REALLY happening! The elevator door opened and I walked out into the lobby, the other guests at the hotel clapped it made me feel really good and embarrassed at the same time that all these people were looking at me!!!!

When I saw Joe he looked very handsome standing in his black suit and sunglasses - he just smiled and looked at me the sameway he did the night we met! He was sitting with our witness, Matt - who looked like a semi had run him over, wrinkled shirt, van tennis shoes with his slacks and to this day I still am not sure that he combed his hair that morning - I really didn't notice until I was looking at pictures.

Into the Limo and off the wedding site, we arrived and Roger our wedding planner was at waiting with the officiant. It was sprinkling a little bit which bummed me out, my friend Kathryn was also at the park waiting for us, she had arranged for our flowers - a beautiful purple orchid lei for Joe and myself as well as a crown of tropical flowers for me, I didn't have a veil.

Kathryn assured me that in Hawaii when it rains on your wedding day - it is considered a blessing. After the first photo was taken, it stopped raining and the sun came out!! After a few pictures it was time to start the ceremony.

We exchanged our vows with the ocean waves crashing to our back, it really was beautiful and perfect! The minister had asked that we all bow our heads for the final prayer, (keep in mind we were at a public park) all of a sudden during our prayer - I hear Joe and Matt giggling I open my eyes - a bum had totally pushed his way through my ceremony and was getting a drink of water, of all the areas in this huge park he had to choose the water spicket where I was getting married. I couldn't help it and totally started laughing.
At 11:15 AM we were officially pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Joe Chavez!!!!!!

After a few more pictures it was time for the luncheon - we only had 6 people so we did not need a huge reception. It was off to the Sheraton where my mom had arranged a beautiful private room for our luncheon. Again entering the lobby there were cheers and clapping, I felt like a rock star! We had a wonderful lunch and were surprised because mom and Kathryn had arranged for a cake and champange.

After the luncheon Joe and walked back to our hotel, that was only a couple blocks away. Walking hand in hand down the street - people were honking and waving it was really a great feeling!

Although it wasn't the traditional church wedding and reception that had previously been planned, we only had 6 guests, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Everything was beautiful and perfect. I can't believe that 8 years have passed already - we have grown together as a couple and have two beautiful children! I look forward to many more years with Joe!

Happy Anniversary, I love you!

YOU DID WHAT?

OK so I am going to try this Blog thing AGAIN! I am hoping that I will be better at it than my last attempt.

So I am back to work this week after being off for 4 months due to the birth of my second child a BEAUTIFUL baby girl! I have to say that this week has not been as hard to get back into the swing of things as I thought it was going to be. My son who is 4 goes to Preschool and my daughter is at home with the husband so that makes it easier to come to work.

We are down to one vehicle right now because the husband's truck did not accomodate car seats and since I was off we didn't need two vehicles, we are getting a second one SOON! So the man brings me to work and then takes my son to school and back home he goes, it seems to be working out fine, this is the third day of this arrangement. I am at work just plugging along and the phone rings I see on the caller id that it is the house. The man tells me that he hit the pole at McDonalds this morning and my front fender is CRACKED, now this pisses me off to no end because this is not the first time the man has damaged MY car. The back bumper is cracked and ghetto because he backed into something.

Mind you I am 32 years old and have never had an accident or a ticket in my life. So it annoys me that everytime there is damage to MY vehicle it has been caused by the man.

We are going this weekend to find a vehicle so that we can get this one taken care of and once again I have my truck back and take good care of it, like it deserves.

I guess life goes on - it is a little humorous!