My Lime-Green Pointy Shoes

The series of events of two memorable days:

MONDAY 10:00 AM: Mr. S (my husband) goes for a routine physical (I had mine on the previous week)

MONDAY 10:30 AM: Mr. S calls me to tell me that the doctor found something "suspicious" about his heart
then he said “ok I am going to let you go because the doc tor is not done looking over results”

We hang up.
I panicked and started crying and called Fernando and he calmed me down.
“Child, your man is one strong man, he will be ok” he reassures me

MONDAY 12:30 PM: I am on the phone with Mr. S, arguing (that is another story)
and another call comes in, it is the family doctor, she is looking for Mr. S
I said, “I am on the other line with him.” She said “ok, I am calling him right now”

I hang up with Mr. S and immediately he calls me back.
“Come home now, I have to check myself at the hospital”

This was the week that Mr. S had taken off from work to be with the kids.

I sent a quick instant message to my boss and leave work
MONDAY 1:30 PM: I rush home to take care of the little ones.
MONDAY 2:00 PM: We pray. Mr. S goes to the emergency room to have himself checked in.
The boys are now taking their nap, I am restless

MONDAY 3:30PM: I cannot take anymore; I wake up the kids and head to the emergency room

MONDAY 4:00 PM: At the emergency room. I am reading the story about Senogita and cats (this Italian lady makes spaghetti to these cats, but one particular cat is tired of her spaghetti and goes in search of the perfect meal)

MONDAY 4:30 PM: Nurse comes in and hooks up IV, heart monitor and an oxygen tube "just in case”' she explains
Mr. S is complaining that the tube is burning his nose
The kids are behaving well and are a bit apprehensive to go sit down with daddy in the hospital bed.

MONDAY 5:00 PM: The kids and I leave to get some food

MONDAY 530 PM: Mr. S is given his own room in the cardiac section of the hospital, 9th floor Mercy Hospital

MONDAY 7:00 PM: Waiting for cardiologist

MONDAY 8:00PM: Cardiologist comes in and says that tomorrow they will run more tests on Mr. S’s heart.

MONDAY 8:30 PM: Nurse comes in and declares "I am going to call the doctor because your heart stopping beating for 2.5 seconds"
MONDAY 8:45: Fighting with Mr.S. I want to spend the nigh with him at the hospital and take the kids to Elsa.
"No, go home and take care of the kids, tomorrow you can drop off the kids at Elsa" he says

Why is this man so stubborn?

MONDAY 9:00 PM: Nurse comes in and says that the doctor said it is ok.-regarding his heartbeat

MONDAY 9:15 PM: The kids and I head out home.

TUESDAY 9:00 AM: Call my boss to let him know that I won’t be in to work and get the kids ready drop them off at Elsa’s.

TUESDAY 10:00 A.M: Arrive at the hospital; just in time for Mr S’s ultrasound of the heart...oh it was so interesting! I asked questions and then later I asked the nurse what do have to study
to go into this field.

TUESDAY 12:00 PM: Mr. S is hungry, but he cannot eat because he is going to have a CTA scan

TUESDAY 12:15 PM: We start arguing so I leave and I say “I am going to see what they have in the cafeteria."

TUESDAY 12:20 PM: Crying and talking to Fernando on the phone.
TUESDAY 12:30 PM: Lunch at the Greek restaurant down the street from hospital.
TUESDAY 1:30 PM: Nurse comes in to get Mr. S ready for CT scan
“Can I come?” I ask.
“Yes or you can stay here” the nurse answers
I decided to go. I am walking and walking the nurse turns to me and asks "are those shoes uncomfortable to walk?"
"NO" I respond, "I even chase my boys with them"
The shoes I was wearing was my lime green high heels that I bought in Colorado at Plato’s Closet
"Well they ARE nice" she said
We get to the room and the other nurse says to me, “ok, I am going to show you the waiting area
“Ok,” I said meekly
The waiting area was full and she took me to another area
A young Latina girl was there in her hospital-robe in a wheel chair looking into the distance with no expression in her face.
The husband was chatting with two elderly ladies, talking about how much the ladies liked Chinese food.
A nurse comes in and wheels the young Latina girl out...still no expression in her face.
The husband says "I suppose I must wait here?"
The nurse nods as he wheels the girl away.
The elderly ladies turn to him and ask,” is she your sister?”
“No, he responds "she is my wife."
I turn to the only magazine that I could find and read an article about people saying dumb stuff that hurts your feelings the article was "Pardon me, while I hurt your feelings"
The author quoted Eleanor Roosevelt....something like "people's comments will only hurt you, if you let them"
I had read this quote before.
I dozed off.

TUESDAY 2:00 PM: Mr. S calls out my name. I wake up
"She is tired," Mr. S tells the young man nurse
"Man, that thing was weird. it felt like a b explored inside of me...I have never felt like that before"
"Man, my head hurts"
The nurse and I remained silent
We get on the elevator to go his room; I looked down at my green lime pointy shoes.

TUESDAY 4:00 PM: The cardiologist comes in; he looked at all the tests everything looks fine, Mr. S can go home later today

TUESDAY 5:00 PM: I leave to pick the kids at Elsa.

TUESDAY 7:00 PM: Mr. S calls, he is home, and I am still at Elsa’s.

Recent Quotes

Roman's (4yr old) Recent Quotes:
"Birds have little wings, eagles have big wings, if birds have big wings, they wont fly, ....if eagles have little wings, they wont fly,,,,I saw a birdie today"

"I like snakes, toy snakes,, not real snakes, this is a diamond snake"


Dominik's (2.5 yr old) Recent Quote:
"babies cry like..............babies"

Yo Soy (I am)

I am the girl that never cooed to babies
I am the girl that did not babysit as a teenager
I am the girl that kept her pregnancy a secret for a while
I am the girt that never read "What to expect when you are expecting”
I am the mom, that every nursing occasion was marked by depression and anxiety
I am the mom that took the baby to the computer lab at school
I am the mom that left for Paris for Spring Break, while the baby was 6 month old
I am the mom that did not have an elaborate party to mark that very first birthday
I am the mom that went back to pursue her career while one was a baby ,the other a toddler
I am the mom that her heart swells when she hears the words..."that is my mommy"
I am the mom that did not know it was pajama day at school, turn around and brought a pair back
I am the mom that takes vacation time to go to field trips
I am the mom that never made cupcakes, but takes treats to the caregivers
I am the mom that lets her boys wear mama's necklaces and shoes
I am the mom that was filled with pride and sense of accomplishment after Roman was potty trained.
I am the mom that lets Dominik ride the big boy's bike...the exact one cousin Ethan feel off.. a few weeks ago...because that the one bike Dominik wants to ride
I am the girl, that a long time ago, spent her weekends going to "el baile," now is happy to spend them watching "The Lady and the Tramp"
I am the girl that one day hopes to hear one day...."that is my grandma"

Pasta is Spaghetti

“It is all your fault” I yelled at Elisa
“I am off to work….wake up its late”
“What?” I mumbled
I opened my eyes and saw Mr. S standing over our bed.

“Oh ok” I said. I realized I was dreaming that I was fighting with my sister, Elisa.
She moved to Croatia about a month ago and I miss her terribly.

Mr. S had woken me up.
As he walked out, I drifted off to sleep again.

I was so tired. “Why did I stay up so late?”
The same question I ask myself every morning.
Mr. S was watching the Lakers vs Orlando basketball game and I was on the computer.
I woke up again, as I felt something rub my arm.
I open my eyes, and there was Roman rubbing my arm.
So finally I got up and was brushing my teeth and was looking at myself.
“Argh I have to use more eye cream,” as I examined my wrinkles
“Mommy!!!!
I opened the bathroom door and there was Dominik.
“Where is Oh-man?”
“Roman is in mommy’s bed”
“Oh”
“Come brush your teeth”
“Ok!” he said, as he carried his stool close to the sink
“Did you have a good rest?”
“Um hum”
“No, mamma, I want to do it” as he saw me put toothpaste on his Clifford toothbrush”
“OK, Dominik you do it”
“Mama, I want hot water!”
I turn on warm water and put this toothbrush under the running water and gave it to him.
“Mamma, that is not hot!”
So I turn it on very very warm and gave it to him.
“Uum, that is hot on my teeth” he smiled
So we finished off and I went into my room scooped off Roman and carried him to the bathroom. I sat in the sink and help him brush teeth and wash his face

“Mamma, I am tired”…Roman mumbled.
“I know sweetie, but you have to go to school”

We went downstairs, carrying Roman and put in the car
Dominik is the closet looking for his shoes, not any shoes, his black dressy loafer shoes

“I like them, mama”, he says as he puts them on
“Mama, what shoes are you bringing for me.?” Roman is calling out

I grab the camera, Dominik’s tennis shoes, and pour some coffee. Mental note: thank Mr. S for making coffee
And we are out of the house!
We see the landscape guy on the lawn
“Mama, what is he doing?” Roman asks
He is cutting the grass…Pasto in Spanish
(The following is our conversation between Roman, Dominik and me)
Roman: Mamma, Pasta is spaghetti
Mommy: Get in the car, Dominik
Dominik: I want to see the guy
So I scoop him up and buckle both boys and drive off.

Roman: Mamma, he forgot to cut the big leaves
Mommy: What leaves?
Roman: The big leaves from the tree, he is suppose to cut them
Mommy: Who says he is supposed to cut them?
Roman: You did!

We pulled to a stop light
Dominik: Mommy, go!
Mommy: The light is red, we can’t go
Roman: The light is red, Dominik

So we on the highway 30 driving by all the factories

Dominik: It’s raining, mamma
Mommy: It’s steam
Dominik: Stinky!
Roman: trucks are going to work
Mommy: yes

As we head off towards a building with a small plan sculpture
Roman: plane!
Dominik: plane!

Everyday we drive by this place and every day they get excited to see the plane.

Roman: Mamma, what is happening?
We are driving by a construction site
Mommy: They are working on the road
Roman: Oh…we are coming to racing cars

We points as we are heading towards the speed way
Dominik: I like races in movies
Roman: Mommy, would you like to ride a motorcycle, bike or moped?
Mommy: I would like to ride a bicycle
Roman: I want to ride a motorcycle
Dominik: I want to ride a motorcycle
Mommy: Do you want to ride a motorcycle with Roman?
Roman: No! Because we would need another motorcycle…because because you have to sit in the back and we would go riding…and he mumbles excited

We are at the daycare.

I open Roman’s door.
Roman: Is it cold out there?
Mommy: No
Roman steps out…
Roman: Oh, it is cold
Mommy: Ok get your sweater
Roman: No, I am just kiddin!
I open the Dominik’s door
Domminik: Oh,,it is cold, I want my sweater..
Mommy: ok here take this one
Dominik: No I want this one as he grabs his “favorite” sweater
So I grab the keys, camera, and Dominik tennis shoes
And hold Dominik’s hand…
Roman: I want to hold your hand
Mommy: Ok
Roman: but you cant because you have stuff in your hands
Mommy: hold Dominik’s hand
oman: he cant because he has his sweater

I open the door and he head to the office….because we have to sign in because we are late again

Roman: I want to go to the bathroom!!

Mr. S

Shortly after getting married, we went to visit my relatives in Odessa, Texas.
Everyone “glowed” over my new husband.
“So handsome and nice!” they would say.
They would ask “sabe Español?”
Which he responded, “poquito”
But the new test to see if he was to be accepted into the Olivas Baeza Torres family was approaching.
My uncles all got together, climbed up into the pickup truck, blasted music from Los Rieleros and drove off..into the sunset?
No! to find a chivo (a goat)
Yeap, the Mexican tradition: gather all the men, visit a local farm and pick out a nice goat, go home, butch it and use every part of it for some dish.

I have a favorite portion of the chivo, which is considered a delicacy, but I won’t divulge
that information for now! The meat or chivito con chile, I really don’t care for.

So after it was prepared, they all sat down and gathered at the table and waited….
He took a bite and said…”oh, we eat this in my country!”
Everyone sigh a relief and laughter broke out….
He is one of our own!

I left him to bond with my male relatives and went to visit my aunts.
“So how is your Señor?”
“Who? I almost choked on my torta de lengua
“You know, your husband?”
“He has a name, you know” I said
“NO, He is your Señor!” they all protested
I tried to explain, that is an antiquated connation, that we are both “modern” and that is unnecessary and…..
They insisted.
I continued to protest.
Finally, I gave up.
Mr. S is my husband.
S for Señor, Serious and Sexy!

Mr. S and I have been married for almost four years. We have two boys, Roman and Dominik.
Every time I call my Abuelita Albina, she asks:
“How is your Señor, when he is coming to visit? So he can have some chivo!”

Mi Abuelita

Abuelitas are very special. I was the first grandchild. My grandma tells me when I was a baby, she wanted me to grow up, strong and healthy. So once a week she would butcher a chicken from the farm. When she was about to feed me , she would sing me the "chicken song", " que le mate el pollo, que le mate el pollo".

Then my parents moved to the city. Every summer and on school vacation, my grandma would come for my sisters and I and take us to the farm. We never went to summer camp like most Americans kids do, but we had a great time with grandma.

During the hot summer nights, we would sleep outside. She would tell us mexican folktales. She would tell us about "la llorona".

She would make "asaderos", homemade cheese. We would sneak under the table and snatch some, and she would pretend that she did not see us.

One of my grandma's philosophy is "to keep modern". She dyes her hair, untypical of her more conservative lady friends. Once she was "experimenting" with hair color. She walked into the village store and there was havoc as the customers were trying to bargain with the store owner. Everybody was quiet and stared as my grandma entered, "What?" She mentioned nonchalantly, your hair is …..orange! someone exclaimed. " Oh that!!! as my grandmother laughter shattered the silence and bewilderment. "El que no me tenga , que me compre!!!!" My grandma said as she exited the store with a superior air.

Lately, these days, she has a "segunda", second hand store in part of her house. She keeps busy chatting and talking about the latest gossip in the farm.



.......These are memories I have of my grandma.I found this note as I went through my personal things written back in 2001!! and I just had to post it!!