Give your kids a hug and tell them you love them….

I wish I could say that my growing up was with the picture perfect family. By no means did I have a bad life. But I lacked a lot of the small things that maybe some people who did get them to for granted. My mom was always the one who made the rules. Was extremely hard on me, etc, etc , etc. My dad on the other hand was the one that was nurturing, helpful and loving. Now a little background on my mom is that she was raised in an orphanage. My grandparents died in an auto accident very early in her life. This left my mom and her sister with no family to live with. So I hear many stories about how they shaved their heads so they would not get lice. They ate once a day. And the food was horrible. They never felt any love from the staff. And that it was the worst living situation for a child. My dad on the other hand grew up the second oldest of 4. And had both of his parents. He came to Canada from Hungary with my grandparents early in his life. My grandparents worked hard to put three square meals on the table for all the kids. My grandmother was very loving. My grandfather was the enforcer. So both had very different lives. Which is maybe what contributed to my experiences and the roles I said they played in my growing up? I grew up in Sothern California. In the Valley. And yes I said my fair share of "totally’s" and "gag me with a spoon". I have a sister who is 16 years older than me. So by the time I was 2 she was out of the house. So it was kind of like I did not have a sister. To this day we are not very close (sad to say and again something I wish was reflective of the “Perfect Family”). Now my mom was not the lovey dovey type. I can’t really think of any time where she wanted to cuddle with me as a child. Where she reached out to hug me. Or gave me a hug and kiss before she made me walk to school. I also don’t remember her saying I love you very much either. Now don’t get me wrong, she gave me a hug and said I love you once in awhile. But not like you should to a child. So now as an adult I occasionally long for a warm embrace or just flat out attention. From my husband or kids (my littlest one “Tai” is always up for cuddle time from Mommy). I also occasionally get really weird about making sure I am telling everyone I Love them. And hearing it back from them is very important. My dad was also not lovey dovey. But I think we expect it more from a mom then a dad. Although the relationship I see my husband and 9 year old daughter is still unlike mine was. My mom is getting older (low 70’s) and she has been through some major health scares in the past couple years. Including a triple bypass. I thought after that close call with the white light two years ago that she would maybe realize that she should never take a moment for granted with her children. But it has not changed a thing. She has remained the same person who shy’s from hugs. Does not say I Love You. But say’s “I love you too”. If you say it first. I think the thing I need to remember is that even though I may not have had a lot of hugs and I love you’s when I was young, does not mean I can’t stop the cycle. I vow to hug and kiss and tell my children and husband I love them. Because even though my kids might say in the future I wish I had the “Perfect Family”, it won’t be because I did not hug and kiss and tell them I loved them more.

Long Time Coming....

So it has been a hot minute since I posted on this blog. My intentions when I started this was to have the ability to talk, vent and connect with friends, family and strangers (those deciding to read that maybe don't know me that well)or even to myself if no one is reading.
What happened is that this blog got pushed under the rug with all the other things I had going on in my life and then completely forgot about it.
With the new year and me turning another year older, I figured I better get my $h*t together and find ways to blog more often. I mean the last time I blogged was almost 9 mths ago...what the hell!
So much has happened since I last posted.
My mom had a heart attack in May 2011 which was life altering in so many ways. My life for about three weeks consisted of living in a hospital. While juggling my life, kids, house and business. The hospital was almost two hours away in traffic (1 hour without) and my sister and I just should have paid for a hotel instead of driving back and forth. It might have been cheaper then the gas. Fast forward to now and she is doing much better. She is back to her old self, which for anyone that knows her is a piece of work. Love you Mom! She still has some health issue but over all is doing much better.
July 2011 was my little mans 1st birthday. Which really went by way to fast. It's funny how you will say "OMG this week is going by so slow". But then you look back and say "OMG where did that year go". It went by so fast. He is such an amazing child. I could not be any more lucky then I am to have a child with his disposition. He is so relaxed, carefree, funny and so cute. I mean I have heard him cry maybe 5 times in his whole 18mth life. Everyday people in my life remind me of how lucky I am to have a baby like him.
September 2011 my Daughter started the 2nd grade and my son started his senior year. Another one of those OMG where did the time go. They both are also amazing kids. My daughter is feisty like me and really know how to get under my skin sometime. My son Jesse is a senior and he has really started to realize that after this year all the fun and games are over and it is time to head to the real world. Work, College, both...whatever path he picks I want to just support him.
October, November and December all went by in a blur. (except that my son Jesse turned 18 years old)!!
Now January 2012..... A week ago I turned the big 35!!! I am not one to sulk about the number. I really am just happy that I lived another year.
Now in between all of this I have been holding down the fort at home, running all of my businesses and being a wife.
Well I have caught everyone up to speed on my crazy life. My New Years resolution is to write in this blog at least three times a week.

I'M BACK!

As I sit here on this gloomy day I am draw to..
Watch a Glee marathon (ok I did watch a episode)
Work (since everyone that knows me know I am a workaholic)
Join my husband and baby on the couch for a snooze
Write in my neglected blog. DING DING DING WINNER!

Oh how I have missed you blog. I have received a couple request to go back to doing my flip off Fridays. Boy do I have some built up flip off's :)

I find it so hard to make time to write a blog post due to my busy life. I mean I know people always say they are busy, but really I am super busy. I wish I was like some who are able to devote daily time to write a blog post.

I battle with myself to just stay focused on doing one thing at a time, but my mind just bounces around everywhere. I currently have more then a handful of business ideas that could be good ideas, bad ideas and maybe even million dollar ideas (Daniel you know what I am talking about). But because I lack the lottery jackpot they sit on a shelf in my brain waiting for my numbers to be called. Is that not funny that I need to win millions to make millions. Sometimes that shelf in my brain gets so full I can't sleep. Sometimes I will be working and something will trigger a thought about those ideas that I get very sidetracked on whatever I am doing(this is a big weakness for me).

I guess what I am saying is I hope
all the sore fingers from typing pay off
nights I have not slept and sent emails all night (I will sleep when I am dead)
said shh let mommy take this call real quick to my kids
Pays off in the long run.

Because even millions can't make up for some things!

Welcome to my world!

My littlest peanut!

My little guy is going to be three months old on Sunday and this past weekend we took him in for his 3 mth pictures. As I am framing and putting them up this morning I am thinking about how much things have changed in three months.

He has grown by leaps and bounds and is no longer my lil guy but my big strong guy now.
He is so interactive now versus just laying there like a bump
on a log.
His personality is amazing...Can you tell from this photo!


He looks more and more like my husband. Which is great as my daughter looks nothing like either of us and I think if we would have had another child like that my husband would have started to wonder!!!

With all that being said this only means that time is going so fast. I mean people are starting to christmas shop. The store have already started putting our christmas supplies. We have not even passed Halloween!

I wish I could say that I was going to treasure the time more now that I am realizing how fast it goes but i would be lying.

With three kids, a husband, a house and two growing businesses my time is valuable and accounted for every second. My calendar is full from now till the beginning of next year. Wish I could be one of those people that live day by day. And just go with the flow. Maybe someday when my kids are off taking care of their own families and my husband and I are living (not vacationing) somewhere tropical!

Maybe I should pencil that into my calender for somewhere in 2030!

Welcome to my world!

Quest to find the best Roach Coach food!

My family and I have been on a quest to find the best roach coach food!
Ok let me explain.

I would never eat of one of those no name trucks you see in the alley or pulling up to a warehouse.

For those of you that don't know there are a ton of trucks out there that are considered the gourmet food trucks of OC.

The most famous I would say would be Kogi. A Korean BBQ that is AMAZING! There short rib taco's are the best ever.

We decided yesterday to venture out of our comfort zone and check out another taco truck called Dos Chinos.

We found that they were going to be at the Old Court House in Santa Ana(also out of our comfort zone). So we jumped in the car and headed off for lunch.

When we got there we expected a line like we stand in when we follow the Kogi truck (sometimes over a hour wait...yes for a taco truck. It is that good). There was no one at all. It was a ghost town.

We find parking behind the truck and set off to buy our tacos

We decide on our taco's and we had heard about their amazing fries. So we ordered those also.
The first tacos we ordered are the Dos Chinos Carne Asada

The were pretty good. My daughter loves Kogi and she was not impressed. I could tell cause she ate the tortilla instead of the meat.
Then we ordered Garden Grove Short Rib (left) and the Hollywood Chicken (on the right).

The Garden Grove Tacos were horrible. The Hollywood chicken taco was amazing.
It was thai coconut curry chicken with tamarind sour cream sauce. OMG! I wanted more!
Then the Garlic Fries. I did not like them. But my husband and daughter said they were OK!

We made this a family event.




So my opinion is that we will go back to the Dos Chinos, but only for the Hollywood Chicken Tacos.

Off to the next truck.

Welcome to my World!

Saturday Night with the Family!

Saturday morning we woke up and were very excited to being going to a Cupcake Camp OC event(more info to come). Till I realized that the event was not Saturday but actually Sunday. My brain just does not work right lately.

So my husband and I were sitting at the dinning room table eating breakfast when we decided we were going to go to San Diego for the day. After looking up the city and seeing what there was to do besides the zoo and sea world, we decided that it was not the best place to take the kids for the day and they they would be bored.

So after awhile we decided to take my daughter and my nephew to the Santa Monica Pier


But first we had to make a pit stop at grandma and grandpa since they live out that way and have dinner together so they can see their grand babies.

Then we headed off for a fun night (for the kids that is)...


The kids got on the rides right away and were having a blast...


My daughter had such a good time!

Then she saw this stuffed toy she has been wanting since we went to the Orange County Fair.
So she enlisted her father to win her and her cousin a Domo doll.

I am pleased to say it only required two plays and $6.00. Good Job babe!
toward the end of the night everyone was getting tired...

The funnest thing was when my son showed my husband how he felt about being there and not being able to ride any of the rides.

CLASSIC!

All in all we had a great time!

First Public Urination!

Yesterday we decided to take my daughter to our local indoor bounce house for their weekly "Glow Night". This is a indoor bounce house were they turn off all the lights give the kids a ton of glow sticks and turn on blacklights and loud music. My daughter LOVED IT!!!!! $8.00 spent wisely!

My husband and I decided to sit out in the waiting room because we had the baby with us. We sat out in the waiting room and talked. Then the baby got hungry so we feed him. I decided I would change him since it had been a little bit since I had changed his diaper. Changed his diaper and handed him to my husband. All the sudden the baby made a loud grunt and then we smelled it. I HAD JUST CHANGED HIM MINUTE AGO!!!!

So my husband said I will do it. So we get out another diaper and wipes and my husband goes in for the kill. He cleans all the poop up and then all the sudden my little peanuts starts peeing everywhere. And when I say everywhere I mean everywhere.
On me, my husband, himself and even the wall next to him. He is looking up at his dad like "OH yeah that feels nice". Until it gets on his face and then he makes the weird look like "What the hell was that".

My husband and I are cracking up at the big puddle he has created on the floor (which dripped down the wall into a massive puddle)See picture.....

We immediately start to look around at who has seen my son in all his glory and realize no ones know what happened. We start to clean up the evidence but not before my husband whipped out his camera to take a picture of his sons first public urination. I say first because I have a feeling somehow that this will not be his last.

Welcome To My World!

My two adorable children!

My daughter Emma has been alot of help for me with the baby. She will throw away a diaper, give him his pacifier, get his bottle, hold him, kiss and cuddle him and even help put him to sleep...

But there is no guarantee that she won't fall asleep herself after a long day of helping her mom.

God I love my kids.
Welcome to my world!

Another week almost done!

I can not believe is is Thursday. Where did the week go? Where did the month go?

The fact that we are halfway through the year is just crazy. Now the fact that I have been pregnant almost a year is just as crazy.

The weeks are going by fast but I just wonder what other moms do with their children all summer.

My daughter has been out of school for almost two weeks and she is driving me a little crazy. Everyday she says she is bored and has nothing to do. Yet this week I have taken her to the park twice and the pool yesterday for almost 3 1/2 hours. Mind you I am supposed to be on bed rest per the Dr (hope he does not read my blog).

I am trying to spend as much time with her now before the baby comes as I know my time/patience will be thin once he arrives. I also know it will not be easy to just take her anywhere and everywhere she wants to go.

How do other mothers that don't take their children to daycare survive?
Help any ideas on how to make the next 9 weeks of this go any smoother or even faster?

Welcome to my world!

My No Stess Weekend and Daughters First SleepOver!

Have you ever had one of those weekends were you and your family have nothing to do. No birthday parties, crazy home improvements, etc. That you can just sit back and watch all the TiVo you want for hours on end!

That was this weekend for me and my family.

I have really been trying to take it easy lately as I am getting closer to my scheduled c-section/due date (three weeks from today). This is so much easier for me to say then to actually do as I am just one of those people that needs to have 110 things going at one time.

Saturday night my mom and dad did come over for dinner and family movie night. I found this amazing BBQ Beef Sandwich recipe that is made with root beer. Everyone loved it. During dinner we started talking politics which got a little carried away, but once everybody voiced their opinion we all moved on to movie night and dessert. We watched Extraordinary Measures ( a true story about a father who tries to find a cure for a rare disease his children have). It was a good movie.

Sunday my family woke up and I made breakfast. One of our family friends called and asked if my son and daughter could come over and go swimming. So I said yes because my husband was going to be tied up watching the one game he has been waiting for during the World Cup (Mexico vs Argentina). And I wanted him to be able to watch it uninterrupted. So off they went.

A couple hours later my daughter called and asked if she could sleepover at her friends house. My immediate reaction was "NO WAY" not my six year old little girl. I told her to let me think about it and I would call her back. MY husband and I discussed it and we both said we have to give in and let her have fun not put her in a bubble. So we called her back and told her yes. The screaming on the phone was obnoxious! She was so thrilled.

So my husband and I settled in for the night. We had dinner alone which was weird as that has not happened in a long time. I made chicken and potatoes in my favorite kitchen appliance the slow cooker. It was amazing. And then we watched Remember Me with Robert Pattinson. Which started out slow but the ending was a shocker. All in all good.

Then finished off the night with our favorite show "True Blood". Got to love us some adult vampires.



After watching the show I got this urge to go pick up my little girl as I wanted to tuck her in and give her a kiss goodnight! But I held strong and did not call or drive over there. I decided the best way to help me forget is to go to bed. Also my daughter was going to get dropped off at 7am.

This morning when she got home I gave her the biggest hug and I think she grew a little bigger since I saw her yesterday.

Welcome to My world!

I am over all the Dr's Appt's!!!!!

So if any of you have been reading my past posts my Dr is on a Medical Mission till July 3rd. So because of our little scare a week ago I had to go in and see his stand in yesterday.

Now I was already not thrilled with this as I was worried he would want to deliver our little one which was a big no no for me as I want my normal Dr who had delivered my daughter and also been my DR for over 10 years to deliver.

Now my Dr is one of those Dr's that has his own office. He does not share with another Dr and all of his staff know me by name. Love it!

So I go yesterday to see the replacement and when I walk in the office I can tell that this is a combo Dr's office. I mean they must have had 5-7 Dr's working in this office. The staff was not nice at all. Very rude to be exact. Once I was taken back to the room the Dr made a appearance, checked the heartbeat and said OK I will see you next week and then you can go back to your normal Dr. I decided I was not going to go back to this replacement next week. What for? So he can charge me a arm and a leg for doing nothing.

I will continue to go to fetal test twice a week and see my DR first thing when he comes back. Hopefully by then he will want to do a early c-section as I will already be 37 weeks by then which is considered full term.
Cross my fingers!

When is enough, Enough!

So my husband said to me last night that being almost 36 weeks pregnant and with the little scare we had last week with our little peanut that I should kick my body into cruise control now till he decides to make his grand entrance. I laughed as if me, my body, my children, my mind, my home, my business knows what cruise control even is!

He proceeded to tell me that I need to stop working (ok I am my own boss so MAYBE I can work on that), stop doing housework like laundry and obsessive nesting (he also promised to take over which I have to see before I commit), and just all in all spending more time on our comfy couch or bed (yeah right).

I don't think he understands that I could never sit home all day and do nothing. Now when the baby comes and I have just had a c-section and am healing...OK! But that is also because he will be home with me till I am capable to do all of the above things without his assistance. Since a c-section is major surgery! Plus with a newborn you don't really take them out much when they are first born! Well I guess I should speak for myself as we saw a women with a newborn out (must have been days old) getting ice cream.

I go to the DR's and Fetal testing again this morning. I have been ordered to go to fetal testing twice a week till my Dr gets back and decides if we are going to deliver. A couple days ago I got a statement from my insurance saying that each visit to Fetal testing costs $1700 (yes you are reading that correct). This is for about 20-30 minutes of heartbeat/contraction/movement monitoring of the baby. Now in previous posts I explained that the nurses there are the most amazing nurses. They remind me of a bunch of really great grandmothers. The sad part is that out of all that money I bet they don't even make 5% of it. Sad, very sad!

After testing I am going to visit my Dr's stand in while he is on his medical mission. I am a little nervous about that as I am very fond of my Dr and have been going to him for almost 13 years. I don't want any poking down in my privacy area.

After todays visit I will see if I can manage a cruise control couple weeks before this little peanut comes into this world. Oh, got a kick out of him. Maybe he agrees with daddy.

Welcome to my world!

Second Day Of Summer!

So today was a much better summer day for my daughter.

Her little cousin was here all day and have been outside playing for HOURS! I of course still have to check in and make sure they are doing good.

Lucky that my front yard has a big play yard (slide, tubes, etc) that is fenced in so they can't go near the street. This has kept them busy all day.

It is amazing to listen to the things they will make up to play. Their imagination is great. I remember when I was that little!

This morning they made paper shoes and cards and tried selling them on our street. That did not work. They lowered their prices. Still no takers.

So I thought ok we have a ton of candy from the baby shower (we had a candy bar) that we in our house do not need to eat. So I just finished letting them set up a candy shop outside to sell.

My daughter the business woman like her mommy!

They want to make enough money to go have ice cream after dinner. I will keep everyone posted as to how much they make. Fingers crossed!!!