Someone.....anyone.....help me.

When I was pregnant with Lucas, I felt like a queen. Fabio was so attentive, so caring and so was everyone else. I felt like royalty. Everyone wanted to make sure I was alright and Fabio was the perfect husband. Then came Noah, and Fabio again did an excellent job taking care of Lucas and his pregnant wifes needs. He was on top of everything.

Now with baby #3.......not so much....  not the queen......not so much the princess....not so much of anything. He tries as much as he can. 

We were at a football game for Lucas the other day, the bleachers were full and there was no where to sit. I was with Noah and knew he needed to run around anyway and I walked over to the grass area with him. I told Fabio where I was going and he said OK. Noah started running around and I just stood standing but then got tired. I plopped down and as soon as my ass hit the floor I knew I would not be able to get up on my own again. I couldn't even sit Indian style, I couldn't stretch out my legs either. Oh man what a mistake this was I thought. Noah thankfully decided he was tired running around and sat next to me ripping grass with his hands and digging into the dirt. I didn't care at least he was near me. I was able to watch Lucas play thankfully. I kept moving my ass, legs and belly frequently tying to find a comfortable spot but couldn't. I sat there for at least   half an hour, I felt my ass numb. Then the game was over and Fabio calls out to me and Noah and says "come guys hurry up, come they are having food for everyone, come before it's all gone". Noah jumps up and runs to Fabio. Fabio picks him up and assumes I will be following. But I was still on the grass trying desperately to get myself up. There was nothing to hold on to, I tried to roll, go on my knees but bending them only got one ass cheek of the floor. Then I hear " Claud, where you at". Then sees me on the floor. Then he tells me to stop fooling around and come get food. I gave him the dirtiest look, literally dirty because somehow I had dirt in my face from the rolling around. He got the point and helped me up. I was like a bug on its back, couldn't get up without assitance. 

One morning we were rushing to try to get to church on time when I lay down on my bed and Fabio says "what are you doing, we have no time for a nap Claud ". I responded "it's the only way to put on my socks, I lay down, put my legs up on the air and put on the sock and pull it down". He was amazed on how I had created a way to put on my socks.  Desperate times calls for desperate measures. 

I walk....well actually I waddle.....everywhere holding Lucas with one hand and the other hand holds Noah I think of how am I going to hold the third. How am I going to push a stroller  then hold on to the other two. I guess you manage....somehow you have to. 

Pregnant with a third, working full time and having two kids already is hard. I don't know how women do it. But I know once our baby arrives, it will be harder than ever. Oh God help us. 

Don't you ever touch my child!!!!

My heart is breaking. My tears can't stop. I know its worst because I am 8 1/2 months pregnant but the emotions and anger running through my veins is like nothing I have ever felt before. Lucas my first born....my big boy got punch by another boy of the same age and worst of all I didn't see it but felt something was wrong. 

We were at Noah's last soccer game. All the moms and dads were watching our 3 1/2 year olds kick the soccer ball for the last time of the season. I was chatting it up with one of the moms that I have become close to. Fabio was recording the game and Lucas was playing with his best friend Michael and they were climbing a tree. All the kids playing near him were kids from the parents that were watching the game. He was safe. He was safe. 

Then the game finished, trophies were being handed out and other teams with their parents were coming on the field to play their game. New boys....boys that I didn't know....boys who were mean. I was chatting with other moms when I see Lucas run to me with his coat half way off, eyes watery and face all red. I knew something was wrong.....felt it in the pit of my stomach. I asked him if he was alright and he said he was fine. His friend said nothing was wrong but I knew it was. The moms kept talking and I let it go but the way he looked at me as he ran away to play I knew there was more. I should have stopped him but instead I continued talking but was still looking at him. 

He began wrestling with his friend and brother. There was still something off as I watched from afar. They did not go back to the tree I noticed. Ten minutes later we started walking back to the car when I began to help Lucas with his seat belt and he said " mommy I have to tell you something but I will tell you at home". I knew it..."baby tell me now". "I don't want to then you are going to go and make a big deal and embarrass me". I promise I wouldn't and at this point Fabio arrived with Noah and was buckling him in and heard Lucas. Fabio says " please Lucas you can tell us anything you want". Lucas tells me "I will whisper it in your ear".  Ok I said. "A boy punch me in my face" and his eyes watered with tears. My heart broke, I felt a big lump in my throat and the urge to find this kid and kill him. Fabio of course could not contain himself and said "what kid, tell me who it is and I will kill him". He quickly realized he said it out loud and stopped himself. Lucas went on to say that this was the reason he didn't tell us because we would confront the kid and embarrass him. What were we suppose to do, ignore it...let this kid think its ok to punch someone in the face....not defend our Lucas and let him think we are ok with him getting punched. I knew I had promised but the mother bear in me took over and I set off to find this brat. But first I needed details. Lucas told us what he looked like and Fabio spotted him still on the tree. I proceeded to ask lucas if he had done something to the kid that would make the kid punch him. Not that there should ever be a reason for anyone to touch him but I needed to have the full story. Lucas said he didn't do anything. Then I asked Lucas if he wanted to come with me and of course he said no. Then I explained " I know mommy is breaking her promise to you but I want you to know its not ok with us that anyone touch you, embarrass you or make you cry. It's not acceptable ever. Please please always come to me or daddy if this ever happens to you again and don't ever feel embarrassed for us defending you, your brother, the baby and you are our life and we will always protect you."  He smiled and Noah said " I am going to punch that kid". I'm sure if Noah had been there he would have punched the kid. 

I set off trying to calm myself down, I said nothing to Fabio, I just walked across the field with my humongous belly. I spotted the kid and walked towards him. There was two little girls up on the tree about 7 to 8 years old. Another bigger boy was next to the boy in question. I said "hi guys... Do you know who punched my son in the face" ( no time or desire for small talk). One girl said "Thomas did" and they pointed to him. Thomas put his face down and I walked towards him. "That was not nice Thomas, how would you like it if someone punched you in your face, did my son do something to you". The girls responded that Lucas and his friend were trying to break the house of leaves they had built but agreed that What Thomas did was wrong. I asked them where Thomas mom was and where and the girls along with Thomas all said they wouldn't tell me because I was a stranger and Thomas did not want to get in trouble. I wanted to go to every woman in that field to find her but instead I went to his level and in a sweet voice I said " you should never punch anyone in the face....ever....and don't ever ever ever touch my son again". He put his face down and shook his head up and down as if to say yes".  With all the strength I had I pushed my body up. To get to this kids level was not easy. 

I knew I had scared Thomas and his poor parents were probably watching the game too and had not noticed either. As I walked back across the field I looked at every mom in the field waiting for one of them to come up to me but no one did. She was probably chatting up with her friends like I was. 

I got back in the car and told Lucas what had happened. I kissed him and reassure him that we will always protect him and never let anyone hurt him. I kissed his checks that were still red and kissed his eyes that had gotten watery again. Fabio and I decided to take them to carvel to try and  erase this memory from his mind. As I drove out of that parking lot I cried quietly and tears fell down my face. I had failed him for not going with my gut but I had showed him it was not acceptable what that boy did. Hopefully I had scared Thomas enough to think before punching another kid. 

I had never done anything like this before and I would do it again. We told Lucas next time he he should punch back and defend himself. My sweet boy said "but Jesus said we are suppose to love everyone". I said "true but not those who punch you first". Sorry Jesus. 

A trip for three and belly.

I recently had a doctors appointment for the baby and no one could watch my boys. My sister was working, my dad was busy and Fabio had to work. I had to go to the obstetricians office with my two boys and I was dreading it. Trying to get use to this lifestyle is something I had to do. In a few months I will be dealing with three kids, I will probably being doing a lot with them since who is going to want to watch three. I sucked it up and got my bag of goodies ready. I had snacks, books that they had not read and a portable DVD with a movie that they had not seen. I was ready...I was hoping the office was ready too. I explained to the boys that mommy had to go to the doctor. They had never been with me to the doctor before. I further explained that I had to go to the doctor to make sure our baby was doing well. I told them that they will be able to hear the baby's heartbeat. Lucas was super excited. Noah didn't understand or didn't care he was just excited that we were going on a trip and that mommy wasn't working. 

We set out to our journey after a few Hail Mary's and Our fathers we arrived at the doctors office. The office is located right next to the hospital where I will be delivering my baby.  It's also were I delivered Lucas and Noah. When we got there I told them that's the place where we first met. Lucas of course asked a thousand questions and Noah was confused of how we could have met for the first time there. It was quite hilarious to have Lucas explained it to him after awhile Noah just gave up and asked when we were getting to Six Flags. I was confused. "Baby we are not going to Six Flags today". He replied "oh man, I thought we were going on rides, do you have candy, I want some Candy or pasta". The fun was just beginning.  

I get the stroller out and buckle Noah in. Noah is my crazy one so I needed to make sure that he was buckled in with no where to go. We set out and walked to the building where the doctor was. As soon as we entered the building they couldn't wait to get to the elevator. Lucas was so excited that the elevator talked to us. It said it was safe to get in and told us what floor we were going to and when we had arrived and when it was safe to exit the elevator. Noah was too busy trying to get out of the stroller to care about a random voice in the elevator. We arrive at our floor and I go in with my two boys and my belly. The Barones have arrived. Thankfully there was only one woman in the waiting area and she soon was called in after we arrived.  It's like they knew to clear out the room. I checked in and took out the books. We read for a little while but Noah began to twitch in the stroller. This is when one of the older nurses came out and asked if we would like cartoons. All three of us said "yes" with such excitement you think she had offered candy. I sat back while they watched Max and Ruby. Lucas said "mommy this is for babies". I knew it was but I  explained how we needed our little guy (Noah) to be quiet. Lucas got me, we get each other and he totally agreed. Afterall Lucas knew how wild his brother could get and didn't want to deal with it  either. Not sure what I am teaching Lucas with that but at least we agreed. 

The nurse calls my name after 20 minutes. Thank God. They asked me to give them a urine sample. The bathroom was small and I couldn't fit Lucas and a stroller with Noah in it and I was not going to release him from the stroller. I said "Lucas mommy needs you to be a big boy and watch over Noah make sure he is a good boy while mommy quickly pees into the cup". Of course a thousand questions followed of why I was peeing in a cup and why would someone need my pee but I had no time to explain. I told him I would explain later and spoke to Noah. "Noah, mommy is going into that door. I am going to be so quick Lucas will look after you. He smiled and said "OK but I want a banana". I gave into him and left them right outside the door. I cracked the door so they could see me but Noah kept calling for me. I peed so fast that I don't think I even wiped. I came out so quickly with pee in my cup. Lucas quickly said "mommy your pee looks like apple juice". Noah says "I want juice". Everyone laughed. 

We were then escorted to the room and I waited for the doctor. I went and started the DVD player and put headphones in each of them. The doctor came in and they didn't even see her. They were too entertained watching the teenage mutant ninja turtles. The doctor said "these are the best well behaved boys I have ever met. Usually boys are all crazy and all over the place. "Well that's why the little one is strapped in its stroller he is our crazy one". She laughed but I was serious. 

Then I put the DVD on pause and let the boys listened to their brother or sisters heartbeat. They smiled and then asked for me to put the DVD on. I couldn't blame them, the fighting turtles were definitely  more entertaining than the heartbeat of their sibling. 

The doctor gave me a thumbs up and told me baby is doing great. I gave the boys a high five and some gummy bears. We walked out and the receptionist gave me my next appointment card. The boys said their goodbyes and they said "see you soon boys". I smiled and felt victorious. We had survived, I had survived. Fabio called at the exact moment we got in the elevator wondering how we were doing and Lucas quickly said "the elevator talks daddy the elevator talks". Noah was laughing excited to be in the elevator again too.  He noticed the voice this time. Guess that was the most exciting part of the trip for them.  I didn't care I survived and no one had a tantrum and no one left crying. Success.