More pics from Heast Castle

Here's the outside of the castle

Morro Rock, this was on the way up to the castle

More pics from Heast Castle

Here is the first outside pool at the castle, it looked so refreshing that I wanted to jump in there. The workers at the castle say they get to swim in it once a year!

Here's the indoor pool at the Heast Castle, BTW, the gold is real.

Our 5th Anniversary

Was on July 19th and we went for a day to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, we had some good quality time without the kids so it was really nice and easy. We both had never been there and it was 4 hours away! We drove and drove and drove some more till we finally got there, I didn't think it would be that far, LOL! and Naty didn't know where we were going and I think he was kind of mad that I didn't tell him how far I was planning on going, hahahahahaha! and to top it off we didn't stay overnight, he was determined to take the kids to the aquarium the next day so we got home at almost midnight, it was so worth it. We coughed it up as testing out the "new" truck. Its not brand new but new to us. So far so good, we've took it up and down the coast with no problems so far!

So then on sunday we took the kids to the aquarium in Long Beach, they liked it at first but then got restless (go figure!). Overall, it was great much needed family quality time :)

Mini Vacation to San Diego

Yes its been a while, again!

Naty has been working a lot and he decided to take us on a short mini vacation before Bubbs went back to school so we left Friday, Aug 10th and went to the zoo early that day. We stood there for a while looking at all the animals and loving the kids expressions on their faces. This is the first time for Audrey but Bubbs has been to the LA zoo with his school before. After that we went to our very small hotel room and chilled for a bit. We were right on the gaslamp district and walked to The yardhouse to eat dinner. After that we walked a little and went back to our rooms, I was burnt and hurting so we didn't walk like we wanted too. After we went to the room and Naty and Audrey knocked out fast while me, steph and Bubbs watched tv and messed on the computer. The next day we woke up, checked out, and went to the natural museum and saw all the dinosaur bones and other stuff. Then from there we went to the beach at Coronado Island and stood there till it was time to go home. It was fast but fun, it was mostly to get out and take the kids somewhere.

And Bubbs started school Monday and he's now in the 2nd grade! He's so big and growing still, the top of his head is to my mouth already, I think in about 1.5 years he'll be my height. He seems to like his new class and is really happy!

4 months later......

Sorry for the delay, I know you all are desperately waiting for updates.

Here's a run down of what we've done in 2007 so far.

Jan: Had my surgery

Feb: Was mostly recovering during this time, I don't think I left my house

March: was my 26th B-day

April: Went to San Francisco again to visit Jose and Monica.

Not much excitement except for Vanessa having her baby in March. She's so cute and funny! I had the privledge of taking care of her one day and all I did was hold her and stare at her. I couldn't get over how beautiful and perfect she is.

I also have been seeing my niece Lorena more often, now that girl is funny! she's only 4 months and jumps like a lil bunny. She likes to jump and doesn't stop! We took the kids to go take pics for Mother's day and Audrey didn't want to take a pic so I was so mad! So only Bubbs and Lorena came out in them. This is a pic of Lorena like a month ago.

Oh, and our house has been under construction since Dec. mostly. Naty and his dad have changed most of our house, it looks totally different. Thats it for now, see ya.

Happy 2007!

I'm happy to have survived 2006 now lets see whats in store for my 2007. I'll be going into surgery on the 19th this month and hoping to end my pain that I've had for 2 years. They say the mass is now 8 cms and they're not sure if its on my ovary or my uterus so I'll be going under the knife and getting this beast out of me. In a way I'm scared just having surgery but then I'm happy that it'll finally be over, a bittersweet moment.

Speaking of bittersweet my Aud-bug turned 3 on the 20th of Dec. and it tore me to pieces. I couldn't believe that my lil baby is already 3, how the time flies. I had a lil dinner for her and she got a lot of presents (more junk for their lil room). Then on Christmas I had the family over for dinner and we just ate and ate some more. Now on New Years I only had my mom and Carlos over and we got messed up. I threw up my guts and passed out. It was awful! I swore I'll never do that again but we'll see.

We also got a new dog named Boris, he's a brat and I want to smack him a couple of times but we love him. He's got these big feet and big ears, he's such a brat!

2006 flew by and I'm just ready to give it my all and regain my strength to get out there and face the world pain free. This is going to be my year!!!!!!

Now Winter is coming!

Ok, haven't been here in about 3 months but everything is going good.

As for my medical drama it is still that! still no exact results or diagnosis but still the normal run around. I should finally be getting an answer soon so hopefully this is it and I'll be able to get my surgery and forget about the past.

Right now I'm in finals. I have about 4 more finals to go. I did ok this semester and can't wait to go to Cal State Fullerton in the Spring. I'm not sure if I wrote about my Associates degree, well I finally got that.

As for the kids, they're doing well and Audrey is just being a lil terror right now. Don't know what phase she's going thru but I pray its only a phase and Bubbs has been teasing her way too much lately and making her crazy. She's crying at the moment and she's making me go gray. Bubbs was on vacation for a whole month and driving me nuts here at home. He's back at school now but will be on vacation in a week, for two weeks.

Oh and we went to Vegas again for our Thanksgiving vacation and had to cut our vacation short cause these kids were acting up and we got bored after awhile cause all we were doing was kid stuff------BORING! I wanted to get hammered but that was out of the picture since we had the kids with us.

anyway, here's a few pics. Enjoy.

Fall is Coming, Fall is Coming

I love the Fall! Cause its never too hot or too cold...a very comfortable season.......aaawwww. Although my comfortable and your comfortable might be different though.

We were dying in the heatwave and I begged Naty to get us our AC and we finally got and were loving it for maybe 2 weeks straight, now the heat has cooled down and we don't need it.

OH and the above picture is from San Francisco when we went on the 4th of July. Since then we went camping this past Labor day with the whole familia. Yup! They roughed it for a whole weekend and I could only stand one day cause for 1, we didn't have an air mattress and 2, I had a crap load of homework due that same day we got back.

I started back in school for the Fall semester and I'm taking a crap load of classes. Here's the List:
Citurs : Anthro Class
ELAC: Computer Science, Child Development, Math
Chaffey: Biology and Chemistry
Hopefully I do good in most of them and at least pass. I decided to push myself a little harder this time around cause I just got my Associates Degree and I want to be out of ELAC already. I start Cal State Fullerton next Semester (spring) but I'll have to take 1 more class at the CC in the spring too so I hope I'm able too.

And Bubbs is adjusting good to his new school and loves it. He just gives me a hard time in the morning. He also started Tae Kwon Do and getting a lot of exercise in that class, Naty wanted to put him in football but because of his height and weight they said he'd have to move up a grade and play with the older kids, I said heck no! Bubbs is like a baby caught in a man's body, seriously. People expect him to do more and be able to say more but he's really a lil kid. That really pissed me off when he was in his 1st year of T-Ball and he'd run the opposite way and couldn't get the rules down fast enough they all thought he was slow or something and I'd tell them, "OK! you f-ing idiots he's only 4!" and they wouldn't say anything and then start to cut him slack, anyway, I already see that happening in Tae Kwon Do when the instructor told him to do something he didn't know what the hell he was saying, anyway I'll have to tell his ass off too (LOL!)

And lil Audrey is still in Folkorico and is now taking a class once a week. It's a class for only 2 year olds and they play, sing songs and do crafts. I'm doing that meanwhile till they accept her for preschool. Because of her birthday they say she has to wait a whole year for each headstart (3), Preschool (4) and Kinder (5). That will really suck if they make her wait cause I already bought her, her backpack, NO Just kidding, it'll suck cause she's so smart and I'd hate to see it go to waste. So after crying and complaining they said to come back in october to see if they'd accept her, meaning if there were too many kids then she'd have to wait till the next year. If that happens I'll set fire to the school, hahahaha, if that happens I'll have to sign her up for tiny tots or that same class she's in now but pay for 2 additional days during the week.

As for the house, Naty just tore out the bathroom window and put a bigger brand new one, he also put new lighting in the hallway and a new ladder that leads into the attic. Lil by lil is what we keep saying but it feels like its moving faster. We've got a lot to finish before we stucco and paint so each week we're doing something new.

Hopefully I get to come back and post sooner, I just get so behind on everything and forget to come here. See you soon!

Marlene

The Heatwave is over......for now!

I thought I was going to die a week and a half ago, the damn temp reached 114, can u believe that crap? 114, I can bake a damn cake with that temp. After crying and being a mega bitch I'm finally getting my AC! yah! Naty's getting it ready as I type, the heat has calmed its ass for now but I know the SOB will be back. So when its back I'll be prepared with my AC on blast.

Let's see, hmmmmmm oh 4th of July weekend we went to San Fran to visit Jose and Monica and we had fun. We saw their new house (which is awesome) and stood in their little apartment they had downstairs from them, it was really cute and cozy. We left on a Sat. go there that evening, went to Target and rested. Then on Sunday we went to Six Flags, Marine World and told the kids it was disneyland, LMAO! They loved it and esp. loved all the animals, that place is cool! We got on a few big rides and watched a firework show afterwards, then on Monday, we went to the bridge and walked it a little then to Fisherman's Wharf to see the fatass sea lions and eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp, then on Tues (4th of July) we headed back home to our dead ass grass and plants. I nearly had a heart attack, Naty's dad didn't water like he said he would, instead he cut the dead grass, go figure....I did nearly die at the sight of my beautiful grass---DEAD!

Then, much of you all know that I've been having a lot of health complications, one after another, well I just had an ultrasound and the doctor called me back and told me that my cysts and the mass I had on my uterus are getting bigger with blood flow (which isn't good at all!) and he said I could possibly have cancer, actually a big chance. I kind of took it easy but I guess that now that I have more time to think and more time for my mind to play this God awful games on me I'm starting to think and think and cry and cry about it. I still don't know for sure if I have the "C" word but I'm praying that I don't cause I'm too young to go thru this shit, I have my kids to care for and I can't even think about leaving them alone. So before I go thru any surgeries I've gotta go make a will and an advance directive. Thats sad that I'm worth more dead than alive....I better not tell Naty that! anyway, I've gotta get all this crap ready and I know it'll be hard but its gotta be done.

And as for school, I'm in summer school now and hoping to finish next thurs. so once I'm done I'm hoping to switch to Chaffey so that I could but Bubbs in school close by and Naty could watch them while I go to night school, it'll be a sacrifice but it'll be worth it! Anyway, I better get to bed..........Goodnight

Not a baby anymore :(

My lil Bubbs isn't a baby anymore. I soooooo wanted to cry today when he got his certificate, cry because I'm proud and mostly because he's not a baby anymore. I've always said a child is still a baby till they complete kindergarten and my lil man completed kindergarten today! wahhhhhhhhh :( I want him to stay small forever. Why do they have to grow up so fast? Why can't it be half the time? I just can't handle anything else right now! I'm so sentimental when it comes to my babies growing up. It's just so hard to believe.

And not only is my baby growing up but my lil sister Steph is too. WHY? Why can't she stay small forever? Why does she have to mature into a woman? Why can't she stay innocent a while longer.......wahhhhhh this is killing me! She had her jr. high promotion today and is going to High school next year....sigh...and so is Elaine.....I don't picture them in high school they're babies still......what is this world coming to?

Ok, since we're going down the line....theres also Melissa.....Melissa Melissa my lil cuz that when I first met told me, "Fuck you Bitch" Yup just plain and simple. She was about 4 when her and my aunt Laura came into our lives. I will never forget that. She was my best buddy growing up since I didn't have any siblings at the time. So I'd drag her around with me everywhere, to the park and to my friends house across the street. Of cousre she'd act up and I'd have to pimp slap her here and there but overall she was my chubby lil cuz. It just feels like yesterday when we'd jump the fence to go play at the playground in the back of our house. This lil girl had nooooooooo fear! She'd jump fences, cuss people out and pimp slap you for a cookie! And she's now all grown up......another loooooooooooong sigh................... and graduating high school.

Then we must not forget Jesse, he was a 5th grade snot nose kid when I met him. Little chubby guy that loved to follow his big brother to my house. He always wanted to go with us cause he knew we'd most likey be going out to eat! LOL! He still feels like a lil boy to me and not a man yet! He's too young to be thrown out into the big real world! NOT JESSE! Hold on!! He can't be finishing high school already....wait......he did.......and that was today... :(

It's really exciting to see these 5 grow but yet depressing cause they'll all be adults soon with their own families and lives. Sheesh....I just feel like crying right now. I can't believe this is happening, its just too quick.

What's that saying?? Time goes by fast when you're having fun! So I'm obviously having too much fun and loving life. period.

So just wanted to tell you 5 that I'm very proud of your accomplishments and I love you guys so much! I'd do anything for you guys and I pray that you all continue through this path that your going down and seek God in your times of need and always know that you can come to me and Naty for anything. Life is going to suck sometimes but you've gotta keep strong and stay in control. You 5 are very special to me and are gifted people that will succeed in life and make a difference to this crazy world. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, the ones who do aren't your friends and don't have a place in your lives. Keep doing your best always and you'll have a fulfilled life. Love you all!!!!!
Marlene

Why Me?

Of course we always say that when something bad happens but this time I really mean it! Why do I have to suffer so much? Did I do something wrong? Do I owe somebody something? Was I a murderer in my past life? Seriously! What the hell did I do to deserve this pain and this awful health scare? On June 1st I was admitted into the hospital because of severe pain in my abdomen and a temp of 104, not only did I start my rag and have strep throat, no that wasn't enough! I also had a f-en migraine and an infection on my uterus, oh wait! can't forget the cysts on my ovaries too! Well after seeing another doctor yesterday, he told me that I could possibly have a tumor and worse case scenario it can be cancerous. He says I'm too young to have cancer but its a possibility-it seems nowadays cancer doesn't have an age preference, everyone is getting it! He also told me he had finished diagnosing 2 other young girls with uterine and cervical cancer. Since finding this out yesterday (well its almost 1am so 2 days ago now!) I've been going back and forth on my emotions, I'm more positive than negative but I can't stop playing out scenes of my babies in my head. The doc hasn't given me a final dx cause he's gotta do lots of tests but according to him feeling my uterus (I know-sick!) my uterus is shifted to the right and has a big hard mass on it. If its a tumor I can live with that but cancer (malignant)....not sure how I will react. Most likely he said if it is cancer I'll have a hysterectomy and that will completely cure it (God willing). I'm trusting this new doctor since he's reviewed my chart and spent a lot of time on it, he just wants me to give him time and patience and he promises to get to the end of this! I know he will, I trust him and God of course. I know I'm blessed to have my 2 babies already so a hysterectomy won't be a problem especially if it will save my life!
Also, Bubbs is graduating from Kindergarten tomarrow! It's a big day for him, his teacher is having a luau theme for them and she'll be giving out their "diplomas" My lil man will finally be home with me! Since moving he's spent a lot of nights over at his grandma's, I miss my chubby bubbie so much. But after tomarrow I'll want to get rid of him again! (PULLING MY HAIR OUT) When these two get together, sheesh, its war time. This past Saturday me and the kids spent the whole day outside. Once the sun got hot, we got the hose and had war out there. Audrey was being a lil cry baby in the beginning but soon after she was wrestling us for the hose, we didn't get back in till Naty got home from work (he worked overtime) We had so much fun and I look forward to more days like that once my baby comes home.
As for father's day we went to my grandma's for a BBQ. We went swimming and played a lil volleyball in the pool. We felt good swimming, actually think I lost some weight after that day!
It's almost 1am and I still can't fall asleep, I guess I have way too much on my mind. I have to wake up early and I know its going to be a long day. Bubbs, Steph and Jesse are graduating tomarrow. I know Elaine is too but I'm not going to that one, oh and Monica and Jose are down visiting so I know we'll probably end up going to dinner with them. Anyway, better TRY to get to bed.
marlene

2 months have gone.....

and Summer is almost here :( I hate the heat so much! I get migraines and really bitchy during the summer.....blah! Lately I've been on summer vacation from school and taking a break from the drama and college life but dumb me couldn't be without school without feeling like a loser so I had to take at least one class. Especially since I sucked this Fall semester, I've gotta re-take 2 of my classes and it pisses me off! Oh well, I guess I had it coming when I stopped showing up to class all the time and I was in and out of the hospital.

I've been going to Weight watchers for about 8 weeks now and trying to lose this awful nasty weight for the last time! I've been doing good and losing this weight but it takes sooooo long, I just want to lose it and forget that I was ever fat (for 5 years, almost 6) I just hate seeing my big ass in the mirror our esp. in pictures, I've forbidden picture taking of myself. Do not ever try to take a pic of me! I'll slap that damn camera out of your hands!

As for the kids! Audrey is talking more and more and being such a good girl! She's my opposite and is so fun to chill with, we read, watch tv, play in her room and go walking together, she's so fun and attached to her mama. And as for Bubbs he's almost done with kindergarten! he can't wait, he's literally counting down the days he has left in school. He also just finished T-Ball season and starts basketball pretty soon. Last month we went to Disneyland and Audrey keeps begging and begging to go again, they loved it there! We're planning a trip to the San Diego zoo this month and looking forward to our Vegas Vacation! (can't wait) since we've came home from it last year we keep talking about it and look forward to it!

Naty just finished his 4th year of school (1 more to go) so when he finishes his 5th year we're planning on going on a cruise and leaving our troubles behind! LOL! leaving everything behind and just relaxing, we've gotta plan that already. Right now Naty just got transferred to the Sony Pictures Studio and he's hoping to see some movie stars and get star strucked, hahahaha.....thank God that mostly everything is going really well for us.

My health is still keeping me back but I know it'll get better, I just went back to the e.r again a week ago for a 104 fever and bad stomach pain, well after crying about this pain for a year and some they found infection on my uterus and said it can be caused by my own healthy body or many other things, after checking me out and doing all the tests, they don't know how it happened. As long as it goes away I'm happy with that! I know I'll get better! I have too!

Let's see, what else?!?!?! oh yeah, my mom is moving to my neck of the woods at the end of this month and I'm hoping she can help me out on some days with the kids so that I don't get too stressed out and can have less going on in my crazy life! I know she will, always has my back! (with 2 hands) hahahaha!! Ok, well I guess thats it. I better get my nalgas to bed. GN
marlene

Spring Break

I'm now on spring break })i({ and loving it. I'm not doing as good as I wanted to this semester. I've been having a lot of roadblocks and pure laziness in my way. I can't seem to stick to anything. I'm getting fustrated and I did take on too much this semester. I know I'll be re-taking 2 of my classes so that sucks! and two that matter for my transfering, its just too much for me right now!

Since last writing we've been relaxing and doing things around the house still. we went to the snow early in march with Laura, Ruben and the kids and kicked it for a day. oh and we must not forget my birthday, boy is that going down in the books! Good Lord!! Me, Naty, My mom, Carlos, Elsie and Michael went to city walk and we ended up at some club. well after way too much drinking and dancing and living it up I decided to talk to some big girl that was sitting next to me, well I seen her talking to some guy so I thought I'd be nosy and ask her what happened. Well she was tore up and telling me and Elsie about that guy she was trying to rap to, well my mom started saying that she was a lesbo and getting Naty all worked up so he got mad and pulled my chair away really fast and that girl hit the floor so hard the floor shook. She was holding onto my chair so tight that when naty pulled me she fell on the floor sick! and what does Naty do right after, he takes me to the dance floor to go dance. MY GOD!!!!! it was hilarious, so thats what really happened for all you assholes calling me a lesbo!! F off!!!! I was just being friendly and drunk and thats what really happened!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

This weekend we went to the Barona casino and Naty won $400 and I won $100 so we were happy. We went in the hopes to live it up again (elsie, michael, pat and carol) and to our great surprise they don't have alcohol there! Oh well, but we did have fun and won some cash!! hahahahaha!!! We took the kids to see Ice Age this weekend and they loved it.

Oh and I'm happy to report that my room is almost done!! yipee!!! it's the love shack! damn I might end up getting pregnant in that room again! LMAO!! it's soooo romantic its scary!! even though I'm on vacation I have a lot to do! I have a long list on my things to do list.

Oh and I forgot to tell everyone that I'm graduating with my associates this semester , (do I smell a party coming on!) so I'm excited about that but at the same time I'm still bummed about my class. booooooooooo! anyway, peace out
marlene

Been Gone

But now I'm back. This Spring semester I'm taking 16 units! Way over what I should be taking and I'm non-stop studying and doing homework. I've never been at school this much ever! I'm glad though that this will be my last full load in a while. After this Fall I'll be off chilling at home with the kids and relaxing and waiting to get called for the PA program. Hopefully that is not a long wait.

Let's see........Since the last time I wrote we went to Laughlin with the whole familia on a turn around bus. During that time me and Naty were helping his parents fix up their rental in East L.A. We did a lot and it came out soooo nice! Anyway, Naty wasn't going to go with me to Laughlin but then changed his mind cause he wanted to get out and do something. So on the way there all we did was laugh and talk crap to each other like always. Honestly I thought Laughlin would be funner than it was. It's nothing like Vegas, theres no shows no entertainment.....nothing. We gambled a little bit and went shopping at the mall then watched a movie. I had more fun on the bus! I drank a little but not enough ;) I bought this margarita that was bigger than my head it was soooooooooooo good!! yummmmmmmmm

I've also taken on another responsiblity of being a volunteer at USC Hospital, mostly cause I want to help and also because I need to do 100 hours of volunteering for my major and honestly I can't wait! I love the atmosphere of a hospital (not being the patient) but working in one.

Bubbs is playing T-Ball again this year so I've been taking him to practice and using that time to play with Audrey at the playground. I feel bad that I don't do a lot with my kids but I know it's for our own good. All of what I'm doing is mostly to set an example for my kids and be able to pay for their schooling. I do see them a lot but when it comes to studying or homework I have to give them coloring books and crayons to keep them busy right next to me and they say their doing homework too. I take breaks and play with them for a little bit then I go back to work. And Naty is also in school (started last week) and he's hardly home again. I was already getting used to him being home all the time and it sucks now that he's back in school.

And as for Audrey she's just growing and being more and more of a brat! she's too funny! She talks a lot and does funny stuff all the time. She loves books and coloring. I just have to watch her that she doesn't draw on my beige carpet or walls!

I really need to take more pics of my babies, they're so big already. Anyway, wish me luck cause I'm going to need it this semester.
marlene

Back to School

Well I'm off to school again tomarrow and I'm sad, mostly because I won't be able to spend my mornings and afternoons with Audrey. This time I'll be at school all day cause of my two science classes. I already miss my babies, this sucks. I need to stay on top of these classes cause they are going to get me in the school I want to get into.

We went to Pat and Carol's today for the superbowl and ate there. Michelle's wedding is in October and we had to pick out the dresses for the bridesmaids. I better get to bed now since tomarrow is school and its back to waking up at 5am! uuuuhhhhhh!! thats what I'm gonna hate!
marlene