Category Archives: Gino

4th Myaversary ~ *Heavy Image*

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Yesterday was our 4th Myaversary.  4 years ago yesterday we found out our baby girl was no longer alive inside of me.  Hardest most excruciating pain I’ve ever experienced inside.

I talk about {Mya} often.  She’s not something I’ve pushed under the rug and moved easily on with life.  She is a part of me, and she is my daughter.  A daughter I haven’t met yet, but a daughter I felt inside of me.  She was growing inside of me, she kicked inside of me, she grew into my heart while she was inside of me.

We always send off balloons to Mya to heaven every year on our Myaversary.  I don’t know why we’ve never taken pictures of the balloons we’ve sent to her before, but this year was a special balloon and we took a special trip for her.

This year I wasn’t sad like I am normally on our Myaversary.  I think it has a lot to do with the if there was a Mya, there’d be no Ella.  Mya served a beautiful purpose in mending a broken marriage.  Mya served a beautiful purpose in bring a family that was so close to be broken to knowing what we mean to each other.  Mya made a way for Ella to enter this world into a family that was a family.  A family that was loving.  A family that was stable.

Mya, I thank you every day for making our family what it is today.  And that is something to celebrate.  And this face right here, is a face of a little girl with pure joy and happiness in her heart…. and I couldn’t fathom a life without her in it.

Our trip to the Oregon coast was a fun trip, but the wind was horrible! Made it very unenjoyable for Ella, but I did manage to get this cute picture of my family

Ella spent the majority of the time screaming if I didn’t have her covered entirely in a towel to protect her from the blowing sand. Such a bummer, because the weather was BEAUTIFUL! Here’s my 2 wind blown babies.

This windblown baby loved everything about the trip…. loved the water, the wind, the birds to chase and I don’t post much about my Sophie girl… but here she is

and my wonderful husband managed to get this beautiful belly pic of me at 27 weeks pregnant with our newest baby girl that will be joining our family in December.

Then it came time to let go of the balloon for Mya ~ I found this special rose balloon, so I sent her off a Rose. You can click on the picture to make it bigger.

Our trip was quick, but it was a beautiful day. We celebrated what a beautiful little girl gave us, taught us and helped us become.

Mya,

I love you more than I’ll ever be able to explain. You will always be a special part of our lives, and we will always continue to celebrate our Myaversary. I know that you are with us, and that you watch over your little family. I know one day we will get to meet, and until that day I hope that I will continue to feel you around me.

I love you ~ Love, Mama

On a Funny Note….

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Last night we were watching this really stupid movie called White Out. I asked Gino if it was taking place in Alaska (because I truly wasn’t paying attention) and he said, yeah… in the arctic, up North.


And here’s our conversation… please, laugh with me!


ME: Gino, they just said that it is in Antarctica, that’s south


Gino: No, it’s North… I know my GEOLOGY!!!!!


I busted up laughing…. I almost told him maybe he should just go make a CASE-A-DILLA and call it a night, because the last time I checked Geology has nothing to do with the positioning of Antartica LMAO


He of course said he was joking around…. YEAH RIGHT, GINO! Moments like these make me smile and realize why I love you so much.

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The Whitest Hispanic EVER!

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My husband is Hispanic. He’s a nice mixture of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican. What I’m getting at here is he should not only know Spanish, but he should know how to spell things like…. quesadilla.


He had left a status update on his facebook about how he was hungry…. a comment was left telling him that he should make a quesadilla.


HERE’S IS WHERE I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF!


Gino: Um, why did he spell it wrong?


Me: What wrong?


Gino: Erran left a comment telling me to make a CASE-A-DILLA


Yes, people… he actually pronounced it like it was written in English…. WOW!


I don’t think that I’ll ever let him down for this one. I make fun of him EVERY, SINGLE DAY and he’s gotten to the point where he makes fun of himself with me.


At work people come up to him all the time and start asking him questions in Spanish, and he always has to say, “Um, I’m sorry let me find somebody who can help you.” SO FUNNY!


Don’t let his skin color fool you, people…. he’s the whitest Hispanic person I think I’ve EVER met in my entire life.

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Another Year… Another Decade… Another Recap

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This isn’t only the close of another year, but another decade. A decade that for me seem to fly by too quickly. Let’s first do a breakdown on 2009:


Recapping on this year that almost seems like a blur, a few things stand out in my mind.

  • Once again, we almost lost our precious Ella this time to a MAJOR accident. She overdosed on her heart medication, but thankfully right after she received her blessing from dear friends in our church she did nothing but get better. There was a horribly, scary chance that she wouldn’t make it.

  • Jayden started 2nd Grade! The teacher that he started out with was absolutely WONDERFUL! But budget cuts made it so that there were over 30 kids in his class, so the school made a decision and some kids went to a 1st/2nd grade mixed class…. Jayden was chosen and went back to his 1st Grade teacher!!! I absolutely LOVE Mrs. Roberts and even though at first this change was a little irritating, we all adjusted well.

  • Gino has dedicated himself to going to the gym EVERY, SINGLE DAY! I have to say I am beyond excited for him.

  • Gino and I partnered with a company that is exploding in our life! I can’t even begin to describe the success that we now have at our finger tips. We are with a telecommunications company that only continues to go up during our economy. We feel EXTREMELY grateful that this was placed in our lives. If you are currently unhappy with your current JOB (you know, Just Over Broke) or are open to making extra income VERY PART TIME then get in touch with me. My goal this year is to get as many moms and dads out of the corporate world, home with their families, and having financial freedom.

  • Last but definitely not least…. we have learned in the last month of this year that we will be welcoming a new baby into our family in 2010!!!

Now on to the decade…..


2000: We met
2001: We had our first son
2004: We got married
2006: Our marriage was tested, but we prevailed. We got pregnant     w/our 2nd baby… only to lose
her before she was born. Then got pregnant with our 3rd baby… Miss Ella
2007: Welcomed our baby girl Ella into the world. Discovered how precious life is as we almost
lost her to her heart problem.
2009: Partnered with a multi-billion dollar company that is changing our lives. Found out that we will be having
yet another little Garibay in our world


This past decade has definitely been based around our family. Learning who we are. Growing together instead of apart.


This decade that we are entering into is going to be the decade that we make a bang! It’s going to be the decade where we focus on personal growth. Where we gain complete financial freedom. Where we change not only our life for the better but the lives of all our children and their children to come. And I’ll be blogging my way through it all.

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Tonight My Heart is Heavy

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Life is short. Boy is it ever so short. I talked on my blog a while back about my problems with my IUD and how I was going through hormone testing and the Nurse Practitioner that I was seeing was WONDERFUL. She was so nice, layed back, took the time to hear you out. I loved her! I just found out that in April she fell and slipped into a coma… and she never came out of it.  Just like that, a wonderful person gone from this world.  





Today is a little girl that will just melt your heart’s 2nd birthday.  However, she’s not here to celebrate it.  I’ve seen her pictures all over people’s blog and waited until today to finally head over to her mom’s blog and get to know sweet Maddie.  Oh my goodness….. I sat here tonight reading her mom’s letter to her today and cried and cried and hugged my babies.  One day she was here, the next day she was gone.  Life is so short.  And Maddie’s story really makes you stop, think and appreciate every moment that you are given with your babies.


To read all about Maddie… go {HERE} for her mama’s blog or {HERE} for her Daddy’s blog.  I waited a really, really long time to suck it up and cry with them… but I’m so happy I did.  I hope you too will go and become a friend of Maddie… she’ll melt your heart.

I have been so close to losing Ella, that stories like these crush me.  I’ve been there…. I’ve actually sat there hearing them call codes on my little girl.  At one point I thought she was gone… I know what it’s like to drop to your knees and pray that your baby won’t die…. and I’m so fortunate to still have her here.  I can’t imagine what not only Heather & Mike (Maddie’s Mama & Daddy) but all of the parents in this world that have had to suffer the heart wrenching loss of a child have had to go through… and still go through every, single day.

My heavy heart can go on and on.  I feel like I’m mourning a sister.  I haven’t unleashed the drama that’s been going on, but I’ve decided to break my silence and talk about how I feel.  My sister has turned into somebody that I do not like.  Somebody who talks disgustingly and someone that I am ashamed to say is my sister.  My sister wouldn’t act the way she’s been acting.  But in the end I think I’ve learned something that I’ve always known.  You turn into who you hang around.  So, it’s so vital that you choose to hang around people that inspire you, challenge you to grow, and have virtue, values & morals.  Because if you choose to hang out with anything less, unfortunately you will be less.  I am in mourning, because things that have been said can’t be taken back.  I have been challenging myself to personal growth, and during personal growth you need to ensure that you are not surrounded by people who hold you back, live negatively and have no virtue, values or morals, because the last thing you want to do is turn into them.  

Life is short though, and I’m sad to say that I’ve had to accept the fact that my sister and my brother are both individuals that will always be stuck in their rut.  Living a life that is not something to be proud of, and until they accept this and learn and grow from this they’ll never change.  They will continue to always be hustling their way through life.  A life without honesty, a life without morals…. it’s so unfortunate.  But I have to remember that in order for me to continue with my personal growth I have to stay away from them.  I have to look at the negativity they hold, the hate they hold, the evil they hold in them and pray for them.  My brother is not someone that has ever had good in him.  I’ve been through it all with him, and honestly feel quite secure in not being in his life.  Anybody who can walk away from their own flesh & blood child and deny them is evil.  My sister, however, I’ve always loved her.  It’s unfortunate what’s happened, but I’m okay with it now.  Yes, Jessica, I do check your myspace status, because I want to see how my niece and nephew are doing.  The things you put on there lets the ghetto and trash in you shine on.  I wish we could mend this crap we’re going through, but I’ve realized since it’s started that you are not a person that I want in my world… and fortunately I get to choose who’s in my world.  I choose class, virtue, morals, and people striving to better themselves, which are things you don’t hold.  I hope one day you learn how to.

My heart is heavy, but at the end of the day I have a wonderful husband that makes me happier than I ever thought possible.  A son that never fails to put a smile on my face and warm my heart and a daughter that is and always will be  my rainbow after the storm.  My heart is heavy, but I love every thing I have in my life.  I feel fortunate to have the blessings that continue to pour down on my family.  I will continue to keep my prayers with those in this world that truly need it….. and I will continue to send my balloons to the people in heaven like Mya, my precious daughter who will always have a huge piece of my heart with her, Maddie, who has touched a world of people with her beautiful eyes and smile, and Karen… my nurse who woke up one day and didn’t know it was going to be her last.
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I am Simply Blessed

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I love it when I find carnivals that has a purpose for something I like to write about. Today I stumbled upon a blog called {Simply Blessed}. The carnival that she hosts is something that I was going to write about today anyways, and this just gave me an idea to spin it off in another direction.

My husband and I have been married now for 5 years. We have lived together for going on 9. From the time I turned 18 my husband and I have been together. Choosing to spend your life with someone at such a young age can sometimes lead to unhappiness, divorce, trials….. or you could just be lucky and have truly found life’s bliss.

I didn’t find life’s bliss at such a young age. I found that love is nothing like the movies. I found that fighting can pierce your heart. I found that happiness doesn’t exist every, single day. I found that becoming parents at such a young age can put so much pressure on your relationship that you forgot how you even liked each other to begin with. I found that keeping house is downright impossible especially when it wasn’t just me to keep up after. I found that silence hurts, that screaming relieves, that breaking phones releases. I discovered what it was like to hate, I think he discovered this as well. I found that sins are easy to make, and take a long time to heal.

So how is this all a blessing? Because despite the above we stuck together. We made it work. After changes to ourselves and for each other we are happy. We love each other. It’s not like in the movies, but it’s our love. It works for both of us and I go to bed with a smile on my face almost every, single night.

My marriage is a blessing. I couldn’t be more thankful for my best friend and the heart of my soul. He has grown into a man that I am proud to say is my husband. A man that I am proud to say is the father of my children.

There is no bigger blessing to be able to say that this marriage has overcome some things that people get divorced over and we’re still growing strong. I truly am blessed, and madly in love.

On a different note:

Join me on Monday for my carnival Just a Motivating Monday it’s an inspirational carnival, where we as bloggers share things that have inspired us, or things we think will inspire others. And on Thursday 7/23/09-Saturday 7/25/09 for the {HAPPY BLOGNERD PARTY}!! It’s for us nerds not making it to BlogHer and to celebrate my BIRTHDAY ~ GIVEWAYS WILL BE HAPPENING!!!!

We are a RAIDERS family!

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I know, I know, we have a terrible team, but IMO it’s just that we have a terrible owner. I just found this picture while looking through my memory card and I had to put it on here. I love this picture of us! We went on Superbowl Sunday to a house FULL of Steelers fans, so we showed up all decked out in our Raiders gear and rooted for the opposite team…. unfortunately we all know how that ended.

A peek into my heart…. on Father’s Day

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Unfortunately, Father’s Day was never an important day for me. I have a dad, but growing up I refused to refer to the man as that. I am now older and have tried to accept him as my father, but continuously don’t feel it in my heart.

My father was 16 when I was born. That pretty much sums it up right there. He was never there, went on to conceive 3 more daughters with 3 different women. Each one I’m sure has their sob story about the man, and I still cling to mine every, single day. I want a dad. I want a dad that cares enough to call me at least once a week and see how I’m doing. I want a dad that can put me first for once… not always focus on his youngest 2 daughters. I want a dad who cares enouch about being a grandpa that he asks how they’re doing, or wants to see them. I just want a dad.

I have a couple of memories that stab my heart, and I think it’s time I talk about them. The first Father’s Day that I spent with my father was in 2006. I was newly pregnant with Mya. We drove all the way up to where I now live just to spend Father’s Day with the man. In addition to him, it was also the first time I was going to meet his 2nd daughter.. dysfunctional, unstable Britney. I know, I have hate issues…. I told you Garibay Soup is the ingredients to a dysfunctional family…. which is EXACTLY what I have.

Anyways… continuing on. I had mentioned to my dad that he could play catch or baseball or fricking something with his grandson {Jayden} that he never sees and the man actaully had the nerve to say to me, “Well, I have Tiona too… it is Father’s Day.” Wow….. this man is a loser.

My dad married his 4th daughter’s mother who is a whopping 2 years 11 months older than me. SICK! At the wedding in the middle of the ceremony they had her come up and be a part of it and even gave her a ring…. I was his only other daughter at this wedding. I felt {AWKWARD}

His 2 youngest daughters are his everything, I am nothing. For this reason alone I have not care for Father’s Day all that much. The 2 situations above are just a couple of things that have stabbed my heart…. there are many, many more, and I need to learn how to let go and be grateful that my children will never have to feel the way I have felt.

My children have a father who loves this both so much and distributes it between the two equally. They will never, ever have to feel the feelings I have felt growing up, because their dad would do anything in this world for them. I am proud to say that this man is my husband.

{Gino}, I know I tell you a lot, but I’m going to say it again……. you are a wonderful dad. You have made choices and changes that they will someday be so thanful and proud for. I just want to thank you for being a dad to my children, I couldn’t have picked a better guy. You make their eyes light up, you put smiles on their faces, and it all makes my heart melt.

Friday Favorites

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Been a while, but I want to get back into this…..

My favorites of this week are as follows:

  • Jayden finally made it to the dentist for the first time and did AMAZING! My 7 year old doesn’t even have a cavity. I’m so proud of him 🙂 I highly believe that this is because I never let him go to bed with a bottle or anything to suck on, but it might just be because he’s a super star brusher.
  • My superstar husband helped me to start clearing out the clutter out of our garage. We have one section completed and a shelving thing in its place. I love organization, even though I suck at it, and am glad we’re on an organizing mission. He also cleared off our old kitchen table and carried upstairs so that it can serve as a return on my desk. I LOVE IT!!! We were actually going to spend money on a new desk and now I really have no reason. I can even use my table as my sewing area…. THANKS WONDERFUL HUSBAND!!
  • Ella has begun potty training and to my shock and surprise is doing amazing with it! My little girl isn’t even 2 and is telling me when she needs to go potty and even held up on a 2 1/2 hour outing of the house!! WTG, Ella!!
  • We got to bring in my husband 28th year with him. Thursday was his birthday and we got to go as a family to dinner. Amazing thing is – we got together when he was 18. We’ve last almost 10 years together and 5 years of marriage. I love him. Here’s to another year of his life that will be spent with ME!!
  • Jayden tested for another belt in Karate. He got called on in Karate class to give a Code of Ethics and he said, “I will forget my mistakes and concentrate on the future.” That made me proud. He makes me proud. I sure was blessed with a special little boy. I can’t wait until we find out if he earned his belt!! I think he did a great job.

That pretty much sums up my favorite things of this week. I love my life. I know sometimes I can complain and get overwhelmed and discouraged, but at the end of the day….I love my life, and I’m so thankful for it and the many blessings that are poured on my family. I’m excited for the next week to come and to talk about my favorite things.

I Love My Marriage

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Marriage to me is one of the most powerful things on this earth. It is a bond that you form and choose to stick with someone forever. In my case for all eternity. It’s a bond that you can’t break, it’s a bond that you don’t want to break even when it’s the one thing in this world you’d love to break.

I met my husband 8 1/2 years ago and I’ve been happily married for almost 3 years. Married for almost 5. We’ve been through some disastrous situations, ones that end marriages, but we overcame them together. Divorce has never been an option, even when it should have been. Instead, we learned to love each other again, maybe for the first time. We learned what it means for better or worse. I learned to appreciate my wedding ring and it’s symbol of a never ending circle. This marriage will never end.

This man that I’m married to is my best friend. Nobody can make me more mad, but nobody can make me more happy. We’re this powerful team that can conquer anything together, because we’ve almost been through it all in our eyes. We are proof that the most horrible marriage can survive and I feel like for us sticking it out through the thick and thin that God has blessed us with a great marriage.

I don’t think I tell him enough how thankful I am for him. I don’t think I tell him enough how there’s no way in this world that I could do this life without him, that there’s no way in this world that I’d want to do it without him. But I’m telling him here, now. Someday he’ll read this blog and when he comes upon this entry I want his heart to smile.

You are an amazing husband, Gino. I’m proud of the choices and changes that you have made to better yourself and our family. You make my heart smile every day. I’m thankful to have you as a husband, friend, and father of my children.

When Kristen announced the SWAK carnival I was so excited. I love to brag about my marriage and my husband. So, if you want to brag about your husband or read other’s entries go to her blog and start reading away.