Baby bump

This is a really horrible shot, but I have no really good ones. I'm 21 weeks and EVERYONE says I don't look it. I can still wear some of my clothes. Hey, at least my butt's not growing. She moves a lot and kicks my hand.

And Heeere's Oprah

Went to the fair with Ana, Michelle and Raquel on the next to the last Sunday and we saw Oprah and Gayle. She passed by right where we were and stopped to shake Raquel's hand. Raquel was so tired and wanted to pee and had no idea who Oprah was. I also fed my unborn child some cotton candy, fried peaches, tornator tators and funnel cake. Oh, my!


This is right after she leaned down to hold Raquel. Gayle was by us longer and I got more shots of her. She has big teeth.

The Busby's are having a girl.

We had our sono on Friday and they told us that they're 99.9% sure it's a girl. She was moving all over the place and I didn't feel anything. She was sucking her thumb at one point, but we couldn't get that part on the video. I felt her move today and Sean keeps trying to feel it, but she stops.

I feel much better now. I still wake up at night with stomach pain due to gases, but it's not so bad. Anything is an improvement from before. I had to have a root canal last week and two cavities fixed. All the acidity and eating every hour for a month didn't help. I also don't drink milk and eat little dairy. I started taking some cal-mag that a friend suggested, so hopefully that will help.


This is my favorite shot. Her little hand kepted moving in and out of sight...like she was saying hello.

How Gross!

I watched some videos on birthing the other day and made Sean sit and watch them with me - one on birth with epidural, one natural and a c-section. I'm sorry, but non of that is natural. It's all very gross and we don't plan on watching anything again. I understand why it's the miracle of life and all that, but good grief, can't they find another way of delivering. I kept telling Sean it all looked inhumane and undignified. Ewwwww!

After much prayer I've decided not to stress about the whole process and method. I will feel confident that I have done all I can to bring a healthy human into the world and rest in God's grace. I will stand the pain as long as I can and if I need an epidural - I'll take it. I don't plan on taking anything else and am so glad I have a doctor that is very understanding of my wants and preferences. Many woman would not agree with me but praise God for medical knowledge. I know that woman were made for giving birth, but many also died giving birth that could be saved now.

Oh, Baby!!

So, I'm 15 weeks pregnant. I figured I might as well start blogging about this mess called pregnancy. I know, it's a beautiful thing and all that. So far it hasn't been that beautiful for me. Sometimes I feel guilty because I can't seem to connect with my baby. How can I? I've been in pain since my fourth week and things haven't stopped. I dealt with an ulcer for about a month and had to take eight pills a day to heal it. I have pain everyday and pain at night. I wake up with stomach pain and painful gases. I can't brush my teeth without gagging.

Right now I feel great pressure in my chest and a dull pain in my stomach. To top it off, I'm starting to experience TMJ pain brought on by the pregnancy. I've also started dealing with my seasonal allergies that keep me up. They usually last about 3 months. I'm no wuss when it comes to pain, but I'm tired. I was ready for the normal pregnancy issues, but not for this. I'm also told that things won't get any better. Great. I will pray and pray and pray.

Sean has been great - beyond great. Amazing. In the last 3 months I've cooked about 5 meals and have spent much time on the couch or crying. He's never complained and does all he can to help me. He's been an amazing husband and support.

I have my 4 month check up of Friday.

The blessings in between

My grandmother died May 2008. Although we had been expecting it, we didn't think it would happen the way it did. She had been doing dialysis at home for a while and now was dealing with an infection on both legs. Being diabetic the infection was hard to hold back but they made progress and sent her home on Friday the 23. I was able to talk to her that night. She seemed her old self. Both my aunts were with her and though still worried, they were relieved to be home. Her voice sounded good and strong. I can't tell you how many times that same voice made me smile. I prayed once again that God would heal her. For years I had asked and pleaded with Him to give me the chance to go to Venezuela again so I could spend some time with her and so she could meet Sean. That night I still had that hope.

Tuesday morning she was taken in for emergency surgery with a perforated intestine. That night my aunt Nacarit called to tell me that she has died at 9 pm. She didn't wake up from the anesthesia. I cried and felt useless being so far away unable to help my aunts. Death is very much about the living. It's about those of us left behind to deal with the aftershocks. I knew my grandmother was now sleeping. Sean said it best: "Baby, can you imagine? She was asleep when she passed and the next thing she knows she will be seeing Jesus." How true and comforting. No more pain and tears and days of loneliness for her.

I was disappointed I didn't get to see her one last time and that she didn't get to meet this amazing God-fearing man I had married. But I was so thankful for all the blessings in between. It was a blessing that Ana was with me when I got the news. It was a blessing that she had her daughters with her. It was a blessing for them to have had 3 days at home before rushing back to the hospital. A little calm before the storm. Daisy and I got to talk to her.

I learned many wonderful life lessons from my grandmother. Her story is very interesting. She was given away in marriage at the age of 15 to some stranger that happened to be passing by her town. She raised 4 children on her own. She was always involved in the life and her grandchildren and loved us like her own. She loved me like her own. On the few occasions that she came to the states and we would talk she would take my hands and tell me all the things she wished for me. She would say, "Mariangela, I want you to be so happy. I want you to have something of your own that no one can take away. Someone that loves you beyond anything on this earth. Something that's yours and only yours."

That's the biggest blessing of all. I got to tell her that God had blessed with all she wished for me.

It snowed here in texas last month. Some parts had more than us. There's a picture of our small plant to the right. So cute! Last night it rained really heavy with huge lightning and thunder, but on Friday it's supposed to be sunny and warm. I love Texas!!
And that's my weather report.