So much to tell you! Really...you will read FOREVER!

Wow...that was fast! Summer just flew by...literally! I don't ever remember it going by that fast in the past. We didn't really do much...a few trips to the pool and a great trip to Lost Valley Lake in July really made the summer totally worth it. My kids absolutely LOVED Lost Valley and, for the most part it went off without a hitch...well except for the part where our the RV we rented, was having A/C issues...issues as such that it wasn't working. Finally the 2nd day we were there they decided to replace it. 2 things happened when they replaced it...the RV was much more enjoyable to be in and, I was not crabby anymore...you know the saying "If mama ain't happy...ain't not body happy"...that totally applied here. I was miserable and, found myself taking it out on my kids :(  Sorry Guys...and, yes I did apologize to them while we were there :)  Trips to the beach at the lake, swimming in the pools, paddle boat and smores on the campfire made me realize just how lucky I am to have my family. Summer really was a great even though we didn't do much of anything. I was actually thinking...this summer hasn't been that bad....HA WAS I WRONG!

3 weeks before school started...that's when the fun AKA fighting had really begun. If u remember in my last post I was about in tears when the bus had dropped them off on the last day of school...yeah, well this is what I was talking about. 3 wks before school starts my kids are literally driving me BoNkErS...NuTs...CrAzY!!! The fighting at this point was in full effect. Sebastian couldn't irritate me or the girls enough...the girls where literally about to rip each others heads off (and, I wouldn't have stopped them) and, poor little Tristan who has been doing First Steps for speech, and is really trying hard to tell me what he wants but, sometimes we both get irritated when I can't understand him. SO, needless to say I was going out of my mind! Fighting, crying, screaming, hitting, kicking, whining...MAKE IT STOP!!! GET THESE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!!!! And, then it was here...Aug 18th had arrived...many kids crying as we pulled up to school (Non of them mine) and, some parents sad to send them back...HA NOT ME! I was smiling from ear to ear and, singing "Its the most wonderful time of the year"...yes I really was :0) I love my kids dearly...but, in order for ALL of us to survive...we need our separation from time to time. And, when I say that I mean M-F from 7:30 to 3:15. I to need my sanity and, if them being gone help me to maintain it...then so be it! To the parents that Home School your children...Kudos to you!...I love love love them...but, I would not be normal if it I never got a break from the fighting. Plus, the girls really need to be apart to be themselves and have separate lives. School gives them that. Sebastian is loving 7th grade and is happy to be back. The girls are loving 2nd and 3rd grade as well. And, I am loving a quiet house! ALL is good at the Camarena house again!

Our A/C is NOT working again this year. Started when we got back from Lost Valley Lake. So, we are ALL sleeping in the living room. We have a window unit that is keeping this area nice and cool. Once the temps go down to the 70's we should be able to move back into our bedrooms...here's hoping for cooler temps! Maybe next year will be the year we actually get it fixed.

Back in May I wrote about beginning our journey to David becoming a US Citizen. Well, I am happy to report that just last week, David passed his citizenship test! (he wasn't even back there 10 minutes) This is HUGE...we are so excited for him and our family! We got the letter in the mail yesterday stating that he will be sworn in on Sept 2nd. After that it will be OFFICIAL!!! He is so humble and, doesn't show the excitement I know he is feeling. This is an AMAZING accomplishment that he has every right to celebrate! We are going to be having a huge party to celebrate this. Even though he may not want it...really does it ever matter what he wants??? NOPE...LOL  Our next step, will be to start to proceeding to have his mom brought up from Mexico to live here with us. One of the perks of becoming a citizen is, they let you bring one member of your family up. His mom is so deserving of this. I can't wait to bring her up. She has raised 12 kids and is now a widow and, is having health issues. We want her to have the best medical care and, Mexico we don't believe will give her that. She has tried to come up on her own by applying for a Visa...unfortunately, there are no qualifications to help you get approved...its all LUCK! Or, who you know in the government and, after 4 tries and a total of $2000 in Application Fees. We are happy to do it this way! She deserves it and, so does David!

Last but not least...Ariana has had trouble with her eyes. They just randomly go blurry on her and, then will correct themselves. This started in May. This happens sometimes once a day and, sometimes as much as 4x's a day. After taking her to a Optometrist and him treating her as if she was lying. I kind of laid low and waited to see what would happen over the summer. She would tell me occasionally that it would happen. At the end of June she started telling more often this was happening. I kept a mental note of when she would tell me these things. Come the end of July it was happening quite often. I called and got her an appt. with her Pediatrician. Took her last Monday and, he thought it would be a good idea for her to see a Opthamologist. I was lucky to get her an appt. for the next day. That Dr. told her she was missing 50% of the optic nerves...Ummmm...yes, I did go into shock when he told me that. He also said he couldn't figure out the blurred vision...said, maybe she just has a large imagination. That didn't set well with me. I came home and immediately started doing research. I called the next day to get a name of the diagnosis...Optic Disc Cupping...yes, this has nothing to do with nerve loss. So, I got an second opinion set up for 2 days later.  He told me he did see the Optic Disc Cupping but, didn't see the nerve loss...hmmmmmm...maybe time for a 3rd opinion. He also proceeded to tell me he thought may Ari just has an imagination for the whole blurred vision problem...technically he told me she was lying...grrrrrrrr!!!!  If one more Dr tells me she was lying...well...lets just say...Lord have Mercy on their soul! I know my daughter, when she lies...she can't keep a straight face. She was really upset and cried when I told her she may have to miss the first day of school b/c, that was the date we had the 2nd opinion scheduled for. She cried and said "Mom, please don't make me do anymore test, please don't take me!" Just about broke my heart. If she was lying she would have just said "Mom, there is nothing wrong with me. I'm fine now!", She also wouldn't be consistent for 3 months straight, she would have gotten bored by now if she was not being honest. When I asked her the other day if she had any problems with her vision at school...she said "Nope, not today" Now, if she was lying she would have said "oh yeah...a whole lot!" that wasn't the case. So, she isn't your "by the book case" we are all different! I am going to keep fighting until I get the answers that I need! I called her Pediatrician the other day and he wants to do and MRI to check out her brain. He doesn't think there will be anything but...who knows...lets just be able to cross that off the list and, continue to look for an answer. I will keep you all updated as we look for those answers!

Well...yep, it was a busy summer and CrAzY at that. But, I guess that is the way its suppose to go. Thanks for reading! And, sorry it was so long. Have a great day and, God Bless!

Summer Vacation has arrived....HELP!!!

As much as I loved summer vacation when I was a kid, I totally understand now why my mom would cringe everytime that phrase was mentioned. I have found myself doing the exact same thing when I think about what is going to happen from June to August...Heaven help us all!

The last day of school was yesterday. And, at that matter it was a half day, which meant school ended at 12:30.  The bus got here around 1:15 or so and, here comes the army of children...well maybe not an army but, there was one more kid then usual...my friend Carries little boy Ryan came home with them. As, the bus pulled away I got a little teary eyed just thinking it wouldn't be back til sometime in August, that would be when my sanity will return.  Well, that was it...school was out and, here I was thinking...why o why must it end? I adore my children but, seriously who am I kidding, its going to be 4 against 1...I am the odd man out...they are literally going to kill me. Sebastian has a smart mouth I would love to sew shut or atleast rip out his voice box...I was like him when I was a kid, my mom should have smacked me harder...LOL. By 4pm they were literally driving me batty...and it was only 3.5 hours since school had ended. We still have 2 months.  I found myself thinking...How am I going to survive?

When we were kids, things were cheaper, gas was cheaper, and we didn't seem to get as bored as easily as my kids do.  I know there are free movies at Theatres in St Charles and surrounding areas...the closest one is 25 miles one way from Warrenton, with as much as I will spend in gas to get there and back in my Durango that gets 18 mpg, I may as well pay for a movie out here. And, those of you from Warrenton know there isn't alot to do out here except push over a few cows.  So now what? There is a city pool we get free passes to since David works for the city...yes, we will utilize that quite a bit. But, that too does get boring after so much. Camp is too expensive when u are sending 3...so that wont work...hmmmmm. We will find things to do...this I promise...I just may have to sell my first born to pay for the gas...hmmmm...now thats an idea! LOL J/K :0)  All I can say is Thank Goodness for Tristan's naptime, this will be the time daily that Netflix will be on and the kids will have to relax and watch a movie...and, a time I might be able to sneak a nap in...hee hee hee.  I am hoping to get to take the kids to Lost Valley Lake at some point this summer...just a matter of when and, for how long? They love it up there and with as inexpensive as it is and, as close as we are...it is a "MUST" to keep my sanity! We also have baseball and, do I love to watch Sebastian play. But, that too will end at the beginning of July :0(  I will be keeping busy by teaching Aly how to tie her shoes and ride a bike. Potty training Tristan. And, playing ref for Ari and Sebastian who can't even stand to be in the same room together....grrrrrrrr  

I know I am going into this summer kicking and screaming...I do cherish the time I spend with my kids (I think I would enjoy them more with duct tape across their mouths)...because I know these days are numbered and, I will want them back when they grow up and start to have families of their own. But, for now a little pill by the name of Zoloft will be my BFF...and, maybe a drink or 2 or 3 or...well u get the idea. Look I have to have a sense of humor, otherwise I would have had to surrender to them along time ago...and, I am not ready to wave that white flag just yet.

Ok..for real this time, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my kids. And, cannot wait to see what journeys this summer has in store for us.  I hope everyone enjoys there summer and, u are able to keep your kids as busy as u can...those words "I'M BORED" come to early in the summer and, finding that one thing to keep their attention is something that is undescribable. Rather it be at the park, pool, zoo, camping, bowling or what ever it is...I hope u all enjoy this time with your kids.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER EVERYONE!!!

What am I getting myself into...

Well...here goes. I am going to give this blog thing a shot. Let me know what you think!
I have never been a writer, so here goes nothing :0)

Ready...Set...STOP!!!

       As, most of you know I am married to my husband David of 14 years. David does everything he can to provide for his family to the fullest. He works 2 jobs...his full time job is for the City of Warrenton in the Maintenance Dept. and then on the weekends he works at O'Charleys in the kitchen. Nope, they aren't glorious jobs...but, it pays the bills and puts food on the table.  We have 4 gorgeous kids...Sebastian is a 12 yr old young man, who loves sports, if that boy could literally live on a baseball field, he would set his bedroom up at home plate. His goals in life are to destroy his sisters and make his dad and I lose our minds before we hit 40. He says he wants to be a Baseball player when he grows up. He has a natural talent for catching, and could be good enough to play Pro ball when he grows up. But, I did tell him he needs to have a back-up plan, just incase that plan falls through. Alyson is a very girly girl of 8 yrs old...she is a very cute, petite little girl...she loves to play her DS and watch movies, she also LOVES animals and, wants to be a Veterinarian when she grows up. Ariana is my 7 yr old, who was born almost 11 MONTHS after Alyson...OOPS! Her goals in life are to torment Alyson anytime she can and, to try to convince me that she is "IN CHARGE". Not sure what she wants to be when she grows up but, I am sure when she tells me it will be something interesting. Tristan is my other OOPS...a sweet 2 yr old boy...he is such a ham, with a GREAT personality...although he is a man of few words...he gets his point across very well. He loves anything with wheels...Tractors, dump trucks, trains, etc.  Cannot wait to see what type of boy of he becomes.

We have started a new journey in our lives...David who is from Mexico and has been a "Legal Alien" since 1998, has started the process to become a United States Citizen. I am so excited about this. His Green Card expires in November of this year. Instead of renewing it, we have decided to go ALL THE WAY! He totally deserves this...he has been the model "citizen" if u will...a wonderful father, stable jobs, we are living the "American Dream", by owning our own home, still working to his fullest ability while having a major eye injury and, only being able to see out of his left eye.  I cannot imagine them not giving him this wonderful "privilege".  It should only take 4-6 months to go thru the entire process.  While we were at the Attorneys office 2 weeks ago, he was going over the process to us and, said the Citizen test was only 10 questions long and he only has to get 6 of the 10 right...I was SHOCKED at this. The Constitution test we took in 8th grade was 100 questions and I am a US Citizen...CrAzY! Anyway, I will keep u all updated on this as we go through the process.

School is almost out for the summer...this is a time to relax but, also a time to go CrAzY...I say this because, even though my kids can get along very well at times, for the most part they are trying to destroy each other at any and all costs. Almost 3 months of them home is going to KILL ME! I love them to pieces...but, by the end of June I am ready for school to start. ITS GOING TO BE A LONG SUMMER!

Well...I hope this gives u a taste of what this blog is going to be like. Follow if u like, or just check in occasionally. Either way...I hope you enjoy reading about the CrAzY life we lead out here in Warrenton.