Raising the Romeros

I'm not sure why I ever became an ER nurse. I was a hypochondriac as a kid and was absolutely sure I had some kind of (insert random body part) cancer. I also cry when anyone gets a devastating diagnosis or loses a loved one. Every.single.time. That doesn't really scream NURSE, huh? Nevertheless, I was fascinated by medical shows and in combination with my love for children, I found my calling as a nurse in a pediatric ER. Need an IV in a newborn? I got this. Blue baby not breathing? Calm and collected and in the zone. Kid poops or pees on me? No biggie. I loved my job. But when our family moved, there were no pediatric ER's near us. So I got a job in a wonderful ER that sees adults and children, but mostly adults. And can I tell you what was completely new to me??? PSYCH PATIENTS. And I don't mean those with anxiety and/or depression. I'm talking poo slinging, manic raging, dead people seeing, voices hearing, needing to be restrained kind of WHOA! It was a whole ...

I have this uncanny ability to bargain with God. You know, like when He is trying to nudge you to do something and you want to tell Him about how you feel it wouldn't be a good decision at this time in your life? Like how it wouldn't fit into YOUR plans, because hello, my life is supposed to go EXACTLY how I planned it! I wonder if God just sits up in Heaven chuckling at my stubbornness. My first bargaining with God came with our adoption. You see, I've always wanted to adopt. Ever since I was a little girl. But once Ariel and I started having children of our own, that plan was kind of pushed aside. Until one day, when our little girl was 1 years old. It was at that time that I felt God nudging me. I tried to ignore it, but it just got louder and louder. That's when the bargaining began. "But God, we already have 4 children! And H is only 1. And we don't make a lot of money. How will we afford it?" Despite my frequent protests, the nudge would not go awa...

I've had many people tell me they wished they were a fly on the wall at our house. With four boys and one little girl, there is certainly never a dull moment in the Romero household. We are a Filipino-American family living in a small town. My husband Ariel, was born and raised (until the age of 14) in the Philippines. He's the most patient, loving, and kind man I've ever known. He's a very hands on father, and is constantly doing things for our children. He's a lover of video games (yes, even at the age of 42), Filipino food, bonfires, and according to our 9 year old, "flip flops and non-funny jokes." As for me, I'm an Emergency Room nurse who loves Jesus, my family, and my amazing friends. I'm known to be sarcastic and emotional (those go great together, huh?). I love Diet Coke (poison, I know), food, basketball, and singing. I start a diet every Monday and usually fail by Wednesday. I really love to write and have been asked by family and friend...