Great Weekend with my Love and Great Friends

I honestly can't even tell you how long it's been since Will had a weekend off, but what I can tell you is that it was WONDERFUL!! He probably wont have off that many days again until the baby is born, but that's ok because we will have almost two weeks together and our baby will be here. This weekend Ann and I went to a "Scentsy" party which was fun and we got to smell lots of different and awesome scents and then ordered a warmer for ourselves and the guys got to relax and kick back while we were gone. Saturday we went to Skyler's soccer game which was so fun because the kids are just learning and Sky was the goalie which was probably the most entertaining thing I have seen in a long time, it was great! Then we went to Buffalo Wild wings for lunch and watch some college football. We left there and went to Cowtown Boot Store where Joe got a nice get up for the rodeo and both Sky and Ann got a pair of Cowboy boots. Will also bought a new pair of boots and also a really nice shirt. We went to the Rodeo that night and it was a blast as always because it's one of Will and I's favorite things in the world. Sunday Will and I hung out and did a lot of nothing, Will finished a paper for class, and then got a haircut and then I made Stromboli and Will got a movie that we only watched 5 mins of because it was a very disturbing movie, but then we found one on the tv and it was much better. To say the least I was just happy to have spent 3 whole days with my husband and he deserved those three days more than anything because he has been working his butt off since April with very few days off. Now we just have to get ready for our baby boy to come into our lives which is coming so fast and we couldn't be more excited!

32 Weeks

Wow, time is really starting to fly by now, only about 8 more weeks left (give or take) and my life is going to be changed forever! With everyday that passes by Will and I are more thankful and more excited than ever. We have found out that we are having a BOY, and we even started buying stuff, finally!!! We also got our baby registry set up and we are registered at Target, Baby's R US and Walmart. We had a great checkup this past week and everything is moving along well and the baby is growing growing growing with a very strong heartbeat. Life is wonderful and God is Great!



Just a flash back...28 Weeks

Monday and Tuesday

Monday there wasn't much that we could do because it was Labor day, so we just took it easy, we sat outside and enjoyed each others company and the wonderful weather. I had to run to the hospital right down the street to pick up Gavin because Ann had to take Skyler to the ER because she has been sick for a couple weeks now. So Gavin came to play with us for a couple hours while Ann and Joe sat with Skyler. Will grilled up some chicken and we had grilled chicken Caesar salads for dinner, by that time Joe came and got Gavin. We watched TV and hung out the rest of the night.

Tuesday morning we had breakfast and got showered and got ready for the day, there was only two more things that mom wanted to do before she left and it was go to the border patrol museum and then the Saddle-blanket company. The museum was very cool, we really enjoyed it! We then went to the Saddle-Blanket company which is a huge store with tons of pottery and rugs and all sorts of cool things. Mom bought me a really cute purse there that I'm going to use as a diaper bag, I absolutely love it! She is the best mama ever!

While we were at the saddle-blanket store Lisa called and said that they were going to be flying out in a couple hours. She finally got all the papers she needed and the adoption agency gave her the ok to go home. We finished up at the store and headed home, she was already packed and ready to go, mom finished packing, we got the truck loaded up and we left for the airport. I cried the whole way there of course, I just wasn't ready for them to leave! We got their tickets and headed to security, we said our goodbyes and sent them on their way. I cried the whole time, and then cried even more that night. I just hate saying goodbye especially to my mom! It's so tough! We had such a great time together, and it was perfect how everything worked out!! I'm so thankful to have such great people in my life, and I owe it all to God. My mom is one of my best friends and I love her more than words can describe! I'm so happy that she got to come and see where I live and spend great quality time with me. I'm also so happy for Lisa and Dan and their new blessings and a successful adoption, with both Guido and Dominic.

Sunday

Just another ordinary day, Will went back to work, and we were enjoying having Dominic and Guido around even though Guido was starting to get fussy, and I think he just wanted to be back in PA in his own house, he was getting warn out. Mom and I went to the outlets to look around. We got a few things, I bought mom a really pretty sweater and myself a jacket that I couldn't pass up. Mom also found me some really cute outfits for the baby that I absolutely love! We checked out most of the shops and then it was time for us to pick up Will.






That night we had mom's homemade Stromboli and I tell you what, my mom is probably the best cook ever, just saying! :o) Will had a little trouble changing his oil because the filter bent on him, and us only having one vehicle he had to get a cab to go to walmart and get another one. A 15 minute project turned into about and hour long hassle. What a mess, but he got it done using flashlights and all.

Saturday... Rocco came into town

Will was off today and it was great! He hadn't had a day off in about 15 days and it was well deserved for how hard he has been working. We all just kinda hung out and enjoyed Dominic. We didn't want to do too much because Rocco was coming in to town but we didn't know when so we stayed at the house, mom and I prepared desserts for dinner and then got dinner ready. We made apple crisp and "Teresa's Favorite Kindergarten treat", we aren't too sure of what they are really called but one day when I was little my grandma and I came across this recipe and I wanted to make them for my Kindergarten treat, and ever since then that's what we called them. They have like a chocolate cake bottom and then you but marshmallow fluff on that when it cools and then in a sauce pan you melt chocolate chips and peanut butter and then mix in rice crispy cereal and spread it on top of the marshmallow fluff... and it's amazing!!! Great treat! We made chicken Parmesan with spaghetti for dinner had salad and it was all really good! Everyone enjoyed it! We went to church with Rocco when he got in and then came home and ate. We didn't clean up right away because we just wanted to visit with Rock. He stayed pretty late this time and it was wonderful that mom got to see him while she was here.


While we were at the mall the other day we bought the boys some cute cowboy outfits, I mean they are in Texas!!!

Friday... Dominic comes home!!!

I took Will to work, and then took Lisa to the hospital. Today was the day that we have all been waiting for. Lisa had to spend all day at the hospital with the baby before they were sure they could release him, he had to get circumcised and be seen by the doctor one last time and then he would be able to get the heck out of there. Mom and I hung out all day with Guido and then we got the call to go and pick Lisa and the baby up. (We have pictures but I just realized they weren't with my camera, but as soon as I get a hold of them I will put them up.) We got him back to my house and I got him out of the carseat and just loved him up! Will was soooo excited to get to hold him, he was waiting all week for him. Mom, Will and I passed him around about a hundred times, we fed him and gave him lots of kisses. He is perfect! What a wonderful gift from God to Lisa and Dan and Guido, they have been really blessed!

Guido not too sure what to think...





That night I wanted to take mom somewhere to eat some authentic Mexican food and get a nice big Margarita, so Will, mom and I went to "Andale's" and our good friend Jimmy met us there. Great food and it was packed, they had a mariachi band playing and mom was loving it. We left there and went to one more place and mom and Will each had a drink or two and we were just so beat from the long day that we headed home even though Will had off the next day for the first time in about 15 days he wasn't used to staying up so late, and Rocco was coming the next day so we had to get rested up for his visit.
Before...
After...

Thursday

Lisa found out that they were going to let the baby go on Friday so we wanted to run and find a carseat so that we could have it ready to bring home the baby. We went to Target first because I had gotten a magazine from there the day before and I was a carseat/stroller combo that I absolutely had to have. It has baby farm animals on it, and that is what I decided to do the babies nursery as. So while we were at Target I decided since my mom was down here that I would start a registry so that way she could help me pick stuff that I was going to need, and that way she could feel like she is part of the pregnancy being so far away. We had a great time scanning stuff and discussing things I would need and things I would probably never use. Here is the stroller and carseat, that I absolutely love!!


My sister made me this blanket for the baby and it is what helped me to make up my mind and go with the farm/cowboy theme that I have been thinking about... Thanks Rachel!!! I love it!!

Lisa ended up buying the stroller combo for Will and I as a baby gift. That was too nice of her!! After we were done there we came back to the house to unload it and then we were off the get some souvenirs. I took them to the "Texas Store" which is a perfect place because they have just about everything. Both Lisa and Mom got lots of stuff for the kids back in PA. I bought mom a super cute apron with the state of Texas on it and it had El Paso pointed out and also Laredo (where Rocco lives), and I figured she could show my nieces and nephews where Rocco lives and where Will and I live. Guido outside of the Texas Store

Wednesday

We didn't plan too much for the morning because Ann asked me to watch Gavin while she went to get her hair done, and do a couple other things to get ready for their trip to California. We had breakfast, got cleaned up and Gavin was here. Lisa and my Mom were so excited to get to play with him for a couple of hours because they had heard so much about him from me. He was sleeping when he got here, but didn't sleep too much longer till he was up and ready to go. He was kinda shy at first but that changed real fast. Guido was fascinated with him. He just sat there and watched as Gavin played with all his old toys that Ann had sent over for Guido to play with while he was here, and Gavin is just about walking so we enjoyed watching him stand up by himself and try and take a few steps which he did.








Will was home early so he played with the babies and worked on some stuff for school. Ann got done with everything and came over to get Gavin and she played with Guido for a little bit then it was time for her to go and get Skyler from school. I took Lisa to the hospital to see the baby and we were hoping to get some good news saying that he was going to be released but they were still giving him antibiotics through his IV so they said a couple more days. They told her for sure by Friday he would be out, so at least we could see the light at the end of the tunnel finally! Poor guy!


That night Ann, Skyler, and Gavin came over for my Mom's Wedding Soup and we also had Cesar salad. It was delicious and even Gavin enjoyed the soup! I made some brownie/cookie bars which was also amazing. Ann and I love chocolate so I had to make something special for her :o) My mom also got to meet Skyler who she has also been waiting to meet, and she lover her! Ann and the kids left and we just visited some more and then went to bed.

Tuesday

This day my brother Rocco called my in the morning saying that he was going to be in El Paso for a couple hours to drop off some equipment and some vehicles. He got a hold of us and mom and I met him for lunch at The Cattle Baron. Earlier that day mom, Lisa and I went around to different stores looking at baby stuff and Lisa had to get a few things. I checked out a bunch of carseats/stroller combos because we were going to need a carseat for Dominic for when he got released from the hospital. After we went to a few stores Lisa went to the hospital, and mom and I went to the Mall just to look around a little bit.

After we met up with Rocco, mom and I went to base because I needed to get a few things at the Commissary and I wanted to show mom what an Army Base was like. I took her to the PX where I bought a "Digital Camo" receiving blanket that I have been looking for for our baby.

We picked up Lisa and We basically just hung out that night, and relaxed since the guys were gone and we had time to really relax. That night mom made stuffed peppers which were amazing like always! While my mom was here I was trying to think of things that I was afraid to try because I wasn't too sure of how to make it, so I had my mom help me and now I know lots of my mom's great recipes.

The next couple days...

We woke up Sunday morning and had a wonderful breakfast that mom made, Will had to go to work, and we all got showered and headed to church. After church we dropped Lisa off at the hospital and papa, mom, Dan, Guido and I decided to explore. We fueled up the truck and Papa asked a local at the gas station if he would be able to give us directions to see the Rio Grande River, and the guy just looked at my dad and said, "Why the hell would you wanna see that?" It really isn't something that the locals hear around here, the river around here isn't really an attraction, so we got directions, and started driving. We couldn't get anywhere close, there is a huge fence that separates American and Mexico and the river was on the other side, and we couldn't even get close to it. I did get to show them the check station with all the vehicles coming across from Mexico and let me tell you it was the longest line of cars I have ever seen! After my dad got some pictures we headed back into the city and we started to get hungry. We went to Carino's Italian restaurant since papa was going through withdraw because every Sunday they go to my grandma's for macaroni and meatballs and we didn't have anything at my house to make it. It was very good food though I must say (not better than grandma's or mom's of course) and mom, papa, and Dan enjoyed it and they even got some bottles of wine.

After we were done eating it was about time to pick of Lisa from the hospital and Will from work. Papa wanted to go to the Border Patrol Museum, but it was closed. So we took a ride up the mountain instead to the look out. From up there you can see for miles, it's amazing! Lisa was waiting for a call from the case worker so that Dan could sign the adoption papers because Dan and papa couldn't stay much longer because of work. As we were heading down the mountain the call came in and we met the lady. Dan and Lisa met with her while Mom, Papa, Will, Guido and I went to the grocery store and picked up stuff for mom's HOMEMADE PIZZA!!! Ugh! I have been dying to have it again, I have tried making it a couple of times but it was always a fail, I guess I just need more practice.

We all headed back to the house and started cooking. What a great time in the kitchen with my mom. We had a blast! We ate and then cleaned up and sat around visiting and laughing and having a great time! A case of beer later the guys were ready for bed. Will had to get up the next morning for work and I knew he was going to be hurting, and he was, he hasn't drank that much in a long time because of work. It was an all around GREAT day!

Monday the guys were going to fly out but we had all of the morning and some of the afternoon to hang out with them, Will went to work Lisa and Dan went to the hospital for a little bit, and then we tried to see the river again. This time we went to the other side of the city, but the same thing, the fence, we realized that it is along the whole El Paso border. We grabbed something to eat real quick at Jack in the Box and then we had to get the guys ready to leave :o( I was so NOT ready for them to go, but I knew that I had mom and Lisa for a couple more days, and to tell ya the truth we didn't know how long it was going to be because of the baby. Which was perfectly fine with me! I was enjoying every second of it, and so was Will. My mom made awesome meals for us and I think Will enjoyed having a baby in the house so that he could get a little taste of what it's going to be like in a couple weeks.

That night we had little hamburger patties with yummy gravy and seasoned potatoes, just something quick because Will had to go to class that night.

They have ARRIVED!!

Woke up Saturday morning and couldn't even contain myself! They were really coming, when I woke up they were already in the air, and just waiting to land. They had a connecting flight in Denver but they had a longer layover then they had planned. It was something like 4 hours in the Denver airport. I was just finishing up some stuff here at the house and making sure everything was perfect for their arrival. I got on the computer and started tracking their flight so I could see exactly when their plane took off and landed in El Paso so that I would be able to meet them at the airport right when they arrived. My mom called me when they were in Denver and I still didn't really know if my dad was with them or not, but I had so much on my mind that I didn't even think to ask. She called me again when they landed in El Paso and then I remembered to ask if my dad was with them, and he was!! I started my way over to the airport and I smiled the whole way there, I never thought I would see my parents in El Paso, of all places!


I made it to the airport, got my parking pass, and parked (in the wrong lot, because I was just too excited!) Started walking over to Baggage Claim and I think if I would have walked any faster I would have been running!


Made it! I walked into the doors and I was looking around, saw tons of people and I just kept scanning the crowd, I heard, "There she is!" I looked over and there was my mom and Lisa and baby Guido coming towards me. Gave my mom the biggest hug ever and started to cry with excitement! Hugged Lisa and picked that Guido baby right up and squeezed him (that was the first time meeting him, what a sweet baby). I was looking around and I spotted my dad and Dan waiting for their luggage to come off of the conveyor belt so I immediately went over to great them with a big "Welcome to Mexico!" (El Paso is so close to Mexico and has so much of the culture that we consider it as Mexico". My dad looked at me and said, "WOW, you have gained a lot of weight!" It was funny because I knew it was all in joking because I mean it has been like 4-5 months since he last saw me and I wasn't showing then.

We got all their luggage and started heading to the truck. I grabbed my mom's hand and told her how happy I was to see them! The first stop was for sure going to be the hospital! We needed to see that new baby! While we were driving over there I asked if they had a name for him yet, and they picked Dominic Daniel. She started to laugh because she had thought of it on the plane just randomly, she said it was the first thing that came to her head, but it was perfect!

We got to the hospital, found the maternity ward and walked very rapidly there, Lisa couldn't get there fast enough to see her new son. The baby had to be emitted into the Intensive care unit because he aspirated meconium, which is the earliest stool of a newborn. The put him in the N.I.C.U to make sure that he didn't get an infection from it so they had him hooked up to IV's and was giving him antibiotics. So only Lisa and Dan were aloud in to see him. My mom, dad, Guido and I waited in the waiting room. It was so nice to get to see them again, I missed them so much.


When we left the hospital we went to my house, gave them all a tour and sat down for a minute. Will was doing some yard work and then came in and offered my dad and Dan a beer, they relaxed for a little bit, and by that time it was dinner time. We decided that it was too late to start cooking so we went to Logan's Roadhouse. My dad was in the mood for steak so I figured that was a great place to take him! It was so yummy as always and they really enjoyed it. We ordered and then I took Lisa back to the hospital because she just couldn't stay away from the baby, I mean would to blame her? Came back to the restaurant and had a great relaxing meal. When we left there I told them that we were going to stop at the Walmart down the road so that way Will and I could buy a "pack 'n' play" so that Guido would have a place to sleep, and we were planning on getting one anyways.

We picked up Lisa from the hospital and I could tell everyone was very tired so we just decided to head back to the house and get ready for bed. We sat around visiting, and hanging out and the guys drank some beer and relaxed. It was a great night!