when tabby and i were newly married and expecting micael, ate (bunny) asked tabby something that's stuck to both of us until now. she asked him: 'if the doctor comes out of the delivery room and says that there's a problem and she can only save one, who would you tell her to save? nanny or micael?' tabby thought long and hard and came up with 'micael. because he's a new life. kawawa naman. he should be given a chance to live.' ate's response was: 'it sounds cold and harsh, but the church says that you should have them save your wife. there is nothing more important than your spouse - not children, not in laws, not siblings, not parents. you can always have more children, but you might not find another spouse again.'
and we remember that. i think that's why we're so ok... i have never doubted him - in the 6 years we've been married, there have been times when, if i were the type to be selosa, wow... i would have been all over the place. but because he reminds me every day that i'm his only one, that i'm his love, i have no fear.
even after 4 kids, i can honestly say that we're still more husband and wife than we are parents. in some ways, i think that it makes us better parents. we're able to be there for the kids because we have no doubts about each other.
don't get me wrong - i'm not saying we don't fight. we do, but we don't scream at each other. there are tampuhans, of course, but i think it's possible for us to argue and discuss things precisely because we're so solid.
why am i writing about this? wala lang - i was just reflecting on how lucky i am with him and thanking God for tabby... i just felt the urge to share =)
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
what to do...
i've figured out why my milk supply dipped... it was because i kept forgetting to take the motilium! that's one of the side effects when you stop taking it - your milk supply dips... it took a while for me to figure out what the problem was, but when i did, i became more conscious of taking motilium and i'm taking natalac twice a day na. i had stopped taking it because i thought that the motilium would suffice...
my guess is that it's like this: motilium will facilitate multiple let downs and natalac will help with producing the milk. am i making sense? so now, i'm taking 2 natalacs 2x a day and 1 motilium 3x a day. and it's working! i'm happy to say that my milk supply is back to normal
but now... i need to have a ct urogram for my kidneys. (i have kidney stones.) but they'll be giving me something via iv that may not be safe for lactating mothers. their protocol is to tell the mother to stop breastfeeding for 2-3 days. so... i refused to have it done. but my urologist said that he really needs that test done. so he suggested i just pump and store milk (enough for 3 days) and then have the test done and then feed joachim via bottle (expressed breastmilk) for 3 days while i pump and throw away the contaminated milk. then i can go back to feeding him directly.
BUT... i'm not sure that that's a good idea for me. i feel like my body will give up making milk if i'm not feeding him directly. it doesn't matter how great or efficient your breast pump is. it's still no match for your baby drinking directly from you.
so... i'm torn. i know i have to take care of myself (by getting my kidneys fixed) and i have to be ok so that i can take care of my family, but at the same time, if i do that, i'll be compromising my providing milk for joachim. what to do? what to do?
my guess is that it's like this: motilium will facilitate multiple let downs and natalac will help with producing the milk. am i making sense? so now, i'm taking 2 natalacs 2x a day and 1 motilium 3x a day. and it's working! i'm happy to say that my milk supply is back to normal
but now... i need to have a ct urogram for my kidneys. (i have kidney stones.) but they'll be giving me something via iv that may not be safe for lactating mothers. their protocol is to tell the mother to stop breastfeeding for 2-3 days. so... i refused to have it done. but my urologist said that he really needs that test done. so he suggested i just pump and store milk (enough for 3 days) and then have the test done and then feed joachim via bottle (expressed breastmilk) for 3 days while i pump and throw away the contaminated milk. then i can go back to feeding him directly.
BUT... i'm not sure that that's a good idea for me. i feel like my body will give up making milk if i'm not feeding him directly. it doesn't matter how great or efficient your breast pump is. it's still no match for your baby drinking directly from you.
so... i'm torn. i know i have to take care of myself (by getting my kidneys fixed) and i have to be ok so that i can take care of my family, but at the same time, if i do that, i'll be compromising my providing milk for joachim. what to do? what to do?
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
supply and demand
i remember that i breastfed micael purely for 4 months and then had to supplement because my milk supply was dwindling. with the twins, i lasted for 2 months of pure breastmilk before i had to supplement. i know that breastmilk is all about supply and demand - for as long as your baby demands, your body should supply the milk... and i was trying to figure out why my milk supply ran low.
joachim is almost 4 months. at this point, he's sleeping for longer periods of time. at least 3 hours. and this is adversely affecting my milk supply. i'm taking natalac and motilium, lots of buko juice, squash soup and other soups... but i feel like my supply is, once again, dwindling. i'm fighting it, but honestly, i think that this is one battle i'm going to lose. i'm so sad...
i can't naman pump in between feedings because it's an alanganin time interval. it's happened where i pump just to keep up the supply and then he got hungry 30-45 minutes after that. and it was hard because my milk didn't let down right away (because i had super emptied both sides!) and he was screaming... poor kimi... and only after a while did it let down. after that, i've been hesitant about pumping in between feedings. i don't want to have him bitin again.
if you know of any suggestions to help me with my milk supply, please let me know! like i said, i'm fighting the fact that i feel like my milk supply is going down...
joachim is almost 4 months. at this point, he's sleeping for longer periods of time. at least 3 hours. and this is adversely affecting my milk supply. i'm taking natalac and motilium, lots of buko juice, squash soup and other soups... but i feel like my supply is, once again, dwindling. i'm fighting it, but honestly, i think that this is one battle i'm going to lose. i'm so sad...
i can't naman pump in between feedings because it's an alanganin time interval. it's happened where i pump just to keep up the supply and then he got hungry 30-45 minutes after that. and it was hard because my milk didn't let down right away (because i had super emptied both sides!) and he was screaming... poor kimi... and only after a while did it let down. after that, i've been hesitant about pumping in between feedings. i don't want to have him bitin again.
if you know of any suggestions to help me with my milk supply, please let me know! like i said, i'm fighting the fact that i feel like my milk supply is going down...
Sunday, November 23, 2008
breastmilk jaundice (another repost)
Here's another repost - this time from Jen Tan of next9 and Mom Exchange. read her original post here. it's about how her baby was really dark and/or yellow. he had breastmilk jaundice. what's that? well, read on and find out =) thinking back, all my boys (including joachim) were dark and then only turned white after a few months... i was able to breastfeed all throughout the "darkness".
i don't think it occurred to the pedia or to anyone else that they had breastmilk jaundice... in any case, the kids are fine =) ate says that my babies are born dark and then lighten over time, but looking at the pictures, i realize it's not the case. my boys are born white, then they darken until they're almost orange or dark brown. after a few months, they lighten again. it's pretty cool, actually... the color was how i differentiated gabe from rafa when they were born (aside from size). rafa was darker - maybe because he was bigger than gabe. anyway, here's her post =)
i don't think it occurred to the pedia or to anyone else that they had breastmilk jaundice... in any case, the kids are fine =) ate says that my babies are born dark and then lighten over time, but looking at the pictures, i realize it's not the case. my boys are born white, then they darken until they're almost orange or dark brown. after a few months, they lighten again. it's pretty cool, actually... the color was how i differentiated gabe from rafa when they were born (aside from size). rafa was darker - maybe because he was bigger than gabe. anyway, here's her post =)
Well, when Kevin was born, he was the same.
He was dark, because of jaundice, his pediatrician said. She said I could give him water or --- just "wait it out" as it'll fade in time.
As a peer counselor of LATCH, I've received lots of inquiries regarding jaundice. How some pediatricians have recommended that the mom stop breastfeeding while the baby is jaundiced or to offer water. For those of you who are wondering, this is why babies are jaundiced:
"The newborn baby, however, often becomes jaundiced during the first few days because the liver enzyme that metabolizes bilirubin is relatively immature. Furthermore, newborn babies have more red blood cells than adults, and thus more are breaking down at any one time. If the baby is premature, or stressed from a difficult birth, or the infant of a diabetic mother, or more than the usual number of red blood cells are breaking down (as can happen in blood incompatibility), the level of bilirubin in the blood may rise higher than usual levels." (quoted from http://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/jaundice.htm)
And it seems, there really is "breastmilk jaundice" -
"There is a condition commonly called breastmilk jaundice. No one knows what the cause of breastmilk jaundice is. In order to make this diagnosis, the baby should be at least a week old, though interestingly, many of the babies with breastmilk jaundice also have had exaggerated physiologic jaundice. The baby should be gaining well, with breastfeeding alone, having lots of bowel movements, passing plentiful, clear urine and be generally well. In such a setting, the baby has what some call breastmilk jaundice, though, on occasion, infections of the urine or an under functioning of the baby's thyroid gland, as well as a few other even rarer illnesses may cause the same picture. Breastmilk jaundice peaks at 10-21 days, but may last for two or three months. Breastmilk jaundice is normal. Rarely, if ever, does breastfeeding need to be discontinued even for a short time. Only very occasionally is any treatment, such as phototherapy, necessary. There is not one bit of evidence that this jaundice causes any problem at all for the baby. Breastfeeding should not be discontinued "in order to make a diagnosis".
If the baby is truly doing well on breast only, there is no reason, none, to stop breastfeeding or supplement with a lactation aid, for that matter. The notion that there is something wrong with the baby being jaundiced comes from the assumption that the formula feeding baby is the standard by which we should determine how the breastfed baby should be. This manner of thinking, almost universal amongst health professionals, truly turns logic upside down.
Thus, the formula feeding baby is rarely jaundiced after the first week of life, and when he is, there is usually something wrong. Therefore, the baby with so called breastmilk jaundice is a concern and "something must be done". However, in our experience, most exclusively breastfed babies who are perfectly healthy and gaining weight well are still jaundiced at five to six weeks of life and even later. The question, in fact, should be whether or not it is normal not to be jaundiced and is this absence of jaundice something we should worry about? Do not stop breastfeeding for "breastmilk" jaundice." (quoted from BFLRC.com).
Anyway, just to prove to you how my Biolink baby looked and how his progression was from "dark" to "light", click here for the pictures.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
What to expect when you're breastfeeding
An awesome post! I read this on Jane's blog "Milk Station" click here if you want to read it on her blog =) it's really relevant and so true! if you plan on breastfeeding, read this =)
One of the books I read over and over again when I was pregnant was "What To Expect When You're Expecting". Well, I wish somebody had written a "What To Expect When You're Breastfeeding". I'm sure it could save some trouble for a lot of moms. So, why not write it myself?
Based on my own experiences, and on the experiences of moms that I know and talk to, here's what (and not) to expect when you're nursing:
1. Expect breastfeeding to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. But, it takes time and commitment, and a lot of practice and patience.
2. Don't expect milk to be flowing out of your breasts the moment your baby is born. During the first few days, they will be producing colostrum, which is a thick, yellowish substance full of antibodies. A few teaspoons per feeding is all your baby needs at this time. Mature milk usually comes in on the 3rd or 4th day. In my case, my milk came in on the 5th day.
3. Don't be disappointed if you can barely pump an ounce of milk. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, milk supply takes time to increase, too. As long as you're nursing frequently, your supply will build up over time.
4. Don't compare the amount that you can pump with other moms'. Just as breasts come in different sizes, storage capacity differs, too. Some moms may have more storage capacity, some may have less. But storage capacity has nothing to do with the amount of milk that you can produce. Moms with smaller storage may just need to nurse more frequently.
5. Breastfeeding can help you bond with your baby, but if you're expecting a gush of wonderful maternal feelings, so much so that you'll positively radiate with a warm glow, well, don't be surprised if instead you're up at 3 am, tired and frustrated at your baby's inability to latch, or seemingly insatiable appetite, etc., etc. Don't worry, just hang in there, and think, "This too shall pass". It will get better!
6. Expect your nipples to feel raw and tender for the first few weeks. As long as your latch and positioning are correct, the soreness will eventually disappear. In my case I think I had sore nipples for about a month.
7. When your milk comes in, expect to look like you just had a boob job. They will become a little smaller once your milk supply is established.
8. Expect your baby to be "hungry all the time". Unlike formula, breastmilk is digested easily, which is why it's the perfect first food for your baby. Of course, this means that breastfed babies need to be fed more frequently, every 2-3 hours, or by demand. However, don't always assume that if your baby is crying, then it means he's hungry. Babies cry for a whole lot of reasons. Sometimes you won't even find a reason. Well, that's what babies do. They cry. It's normal. No need to panic (and give formula).
9. Expect to be "hungry all the time" yourself. After all, you are still eating for two. Always have a snack and a glass of water ready.
10. Expect your baby to use your breast as a pacifier. While your first instinct might be to object to this, in my opinion, it's better to just surrender to it. It's good for your milk supply, anyway. Plus, it's better for your baby to get comfort from you than from plastic and silicone.
11. Don't be surprised if your baby often falls asleep at your breast. Don't be surprised if you find yourself nodding off, too. Breastfeeding releases hormones that relax both you and your baby.
12. Expect your baby's poop to change from black to green to yellow. It will be soft and mushy, and it's normal to have some stuff that look like seeds. Expect around four to six wet diapers a day, and at least two poops a day. Some breastfed babies poop after every feeding. That's normal.
13. Don't worry if you get stomach cramps, especially while you're nursing. Breastfeeding helps contract your uterus, bringing it back to its original size. That's what's causing the cramps.
14. Expect your baby to get better at latching as time goes on. It took my little S about a month before he learned how to latch. At 3 months, I didn't even have to guide him anymore. There were times when I'd be moving around, and look down in surprise to see him latched on already.
15. Expect your baby to get more efficient, too. Starting around 7 months, what used to take little S an hour (or two) now takes him under 10 minutes to finish.
16. As your baby grows older, expect him to get easily distracted. This started at 3 months for baby S. If you find this irritating, nurse in a dim, secluded area.
17. Expect your older baby to be able to nurse in positions that will amaze you. (And lift your shirt up himself, too!)
18. And the warm gush of maternal feelings? Yes, they will come, especially when your baby caresses you while nursing, or smiles at you after he's full. My little S likes to be tickled while (comfort) nursing. It's our way of bonding, and I'm sure you'll create your own special nursing ritual, too.
I hope this helps some first-time breastfeeding moms out there.
Happy breastfeeding!
One of the books I read over and over again when I was pregnant was "What To Expect When You're Expecting". Well, I wish somebody had written a "What To Expect When You're Breastfeeding". I'm sure it could save some trouble for a lot of moms. So, why not write it myself?
Based on my own experiences, and on the experiences of moms that I know and talk to, here's what (and not) to expect when you're nursing:
1. Expect breastfeeding to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. But, it takes time and commitment, and a lot of practice and patience.
2. Don't expect milk to be flowing out of your breasts the moment your baby is born. During the first few days, they will be producing colostrum, which is a thick, yellowish substance full of antibodies. A few teaspoons per feeding is all your baby needs at this time. Mature milk usually comes in on the 3rd or 4th day. In my case, my milk came in on the 5th day.
3. Don't be disappointed if you can barely pump an ounce of milk. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, milk supply takes time to increase, too. As long as you're nursing frequently, your supply will build up over time.
4. Don't compare the amount that you can pump with other moms'. Just as breasts come in different sizes, storage capacity differs, too. Some moms may have more storage capacity, some may have less. But storage capacity has nothing to do with the amount of milk that you can produce. Moms with smaller storage may just need to nurse more frequently.
5. Breastfeeding can help you bond with your baby, but if you're expecting a gush of wonderful maternal feelings, so much so that you'll positively radiate with a warm glow, well, don't be surprised if instead you're up at 3 am, tired and frustrated at your baby's inability to latch, or seemingly insatiable appetite, etc., etc. Don't worry, just hang in there, and think, "This too shall pass". It will get better!
6. Expect your nipples to feel raw and tender for the first few weeks. As long as your latch and positioning are correct, the soreness will eventually disappear. In my case I think I had sore nipples for about a month.
7. When your milk comes in, expect to look like you just had a boob job. They will become a little smaller once your milk supply is established.
8. Expect your baby to be "hungry all the time". Unlike formula, breastmilk is digested easily, which is why it's the perfect first food for your baby. Of course, this means that breastfed babies need to be fed more frequently, every 2-3 hours, or by demand. However, don't always assume that if your baby is crying, then it means he's hungry. Babies cry for a whole lot of reasons. Sometimes you won't even find a reason. Well, that's what babies do. They cry. It's normal. No need to panic (and give formula).
9. Expect to be "hungry all the time" yourself. After all, you are still eating for two. Always have a snack and a glass of water ready.
10. Expect your baby to use your breast as a pacifier. While your first instinct might be to object to this, in my opinion, it's better to just surrender to it. It's good for your milk supply, anyway. Plus, it's better for your baby to get comfort from you than from plastic and silicone.
11. Don't be surprised if your baby often falls asleep at your breast. Don't be surprised if you find yourself nodding off, too. Breastfeeding releases hormones that relax both you and your baby.
12. Expect your baby's poop to change from black to green to yellow. It will be soft and mushy, and it's normal to have some stuff that look like seeds. Expect around four to six wet diapers a day, and at least two poops a day. Some breastfed babies poop after every feeding. That's normal.
13. Don't worry if you get stomach cramps, especially while you're nursing. Breastfeeding helps contract your uterus, bringing it back to its original size. That's what's causing the cramps.
14. Expect your baby to get better at latching as time goes on. It took my little S about a month before he learned how to latch. At 3 months, I didn't even have to guide him anymore. There were times when I'd be moving around, and look down in surprise to see him latched on already.
15. Expect your baby to get more efficient, too. Starting around 7 months, what used to take little S an hour (or two) now takes him under 10 minutes to finish.
16. As your baby grows older, expect him to get easily distracted. This started at 3 months for baby S. If you find this irritating, nurse in a dim, secluded area.
17. Expect your older baby to be able to nurse in positions that will amaze you. (And lift your shirt up himself, too!)
18. And the warm gush of maternal feelings? Yes, they will come, especially when your baby caresses you while nursing, or smiles at you after he's full. My little S likes to be tickled while (comfort) nursing. It's our way of bonding, and I'm sure you'll create your own special nursing ritual, too.
I hope this helps some first-time breastfeeding moms out there.
Happy breastfeeding!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Montemar Beach Resort trip Nov. 7-9, 2008
we went for the birthday of tabby's dad and sookie and dondi's wedding anniversary =) ava, eli and joachim's first time on a beach... they released baby turtles too! =) montemar is a turtle preserve and they had hatchlings that had to be released. tabby's mom and sister (auntie elizabeth) joined us there too =)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
breastfeeding
breastfeeding has been a difficult and rewarding experience for me. much easier now than with mica, gabe and rafa. maybe because i'm older and know my mind... i am really sticking to my guns about it. there are those tell me that i should give him water or that maybe my breast milk is not enough - he might be malnourished! hello?! have they seen my boy? he's almost 8 kilos! at 3 months!! 
funny din my yayas because they have all these pamahiins about breastfeeding! i told you guys na about the feeding from the left breast first before the right because that's the ulam and the right is the water (or was is the other way around?)... but there's also the one about how i shouldn't feed joachim right away when i come home because i'm tired. i should express some milk first - kahit konti lang - before feeding him para he doesn't get tired. ok ba?!
hay naku! I just sigh and tell them to give me my baby na so i can feed him.
they keep insisting that i should buy formula for him - "just in case" daw - kahit a small can lang. i keep telling them no. not only is it against what i'm trying to do (which is to purely breastfeed), it'll be too tempting for them and they won't text me when he's hungry if i'm not home.
i'm really lucky that i have enough milk for him. i've been taking the malungay pills (natalac), drinking buko juice, having squash soup and taking motilium (yes, the medicine for your tummy) to help increase my milk supply.
micael (he's 5 years old now) is getting over a cold - lots of phlegm, coughing and slight fever for 2 days. not fun. the poor boy's paos and he's matamlay. so i had the bright idea of giving him my breast milk to help boost his immune system. this worked with joachim and so i told the yaya to mix it in with his regular strawberry-flavored milk. of course, i didn't tell him mostly because he'd refuse because the milk is for joachim. and, to be honest with you, i'm not sure what i'd do if i offered to feed him and he said yes! (he's kinda big na, you know?!) and guess what! he's much better. although he's still coughing, his eyes are clearer and he's more active!
amazing talaga the way God made us! i'm so grateful that i have milk now and that since i am producing antibodies, my other kids can benefit from it - not just joachim! makes me even more determined to keep on breastfeeding and storing as much as possible for when i have to go back to the office! my mom's being really nice and told me that i can work from the house first because i'm still breastfeeding joachim... i'm so lucky that she's my boss and she has vested interest in him! haha
funny din my yayas because they have all these pamahiins about breastfeeding! i told you guys na about the feeding from the left breast first before the right because that's the ulam and the right is the water (or was is the other way around?)... but there's also the one about how i shouldn't feed joachim right away when i come home because i'm tired. i should express some milk first - kahit konti lang - before feeding him para he doesn't get tired. ok ba?!
hay naku! I just sigh and tell them to give me my baby na so i can feed him.they keep insisting that i should buy formula for him - "just in case" daw - kahit a small can lang. i keep telling them no. not only is it against what i'm trying to do (which is to purely breastfeed), it'll be too tempting for them and they won't text me when he's hungry if i'm not home.
i'm really lucky that i have enough milk for him. i've been taking the malungay pills (natalac), drinking buko juice, having squash soup and taking motilium (yes, the medicine for your tummy) to help increase my milk supply.
micael (he's 5 years old now) is getting over a cold - lots of phlegm, coughing and slight fever for 2 days. not fun. the poor boy's paos and he's matamlay. so i had the bright idea of giving him my breast milk to help boost his immune system. this worked with joachim and so i told the yaya to mix it in with his regular strawberry-flavored milk. of course, i didn't tell him
mostly because he'd refuse because the milk is for joachim. and, to be honest with you, i'm not sure what i'd do if i offered to feed him and he said yes! (he's kinda big na, you know?!) and guess what! he's much better. although he's still coughing, his eyes are clearer and he's more active! amazing talaga the way God made us! i'm so grateful that i have milk now and that since i am producing antibodies, my other kids can benefit from it - not just joachim! makes me even more determined to keep on breastfeeding and storing as much as possible for when i have to go back to the office! my mom's being really nice and told me that i can work from the house first because i'm still breastfeeding joachim... i'm so lucky that she's my boss and she has vested interest in him! haha
Monday, November 3, 2008
brotherhood
sunday morning in tagaytay, i was listening to the three boys talk - well, mica was listening and gabe was talking with rafa chiming in every so often. they were discussing the fact that gabe had no more socks (his yaya had only packed 2 pairs of socks for both him and rafa) and how he wanted to wear his shoes, but can't because i said he had to wear socks with them. no smelly feet for him! he had already used his 2 pairs the whole of saturday and so had no socks. he refused to wear his crocs and was adamant about not wearing his sandals. he very definitely wanted to wear his rubber shoes.
mica was patiently listening to gabe, all the while compante because his yaya packed more than enough socks for him, so he was fine! putting on his last pair of clean socks while listening to gabe and rafa. after a while, he pulls off his socks and announces: "you can wear my socks." and gabe, quick as a snake, snatches the socks (before kuya changes his mind) and yells out "thank you, kuya!!! MOMMY!!! Kuya lent me his socks!! I can wear my shoes na!!!" his smile was triumphant and exhilarated!
I came out from the room, where i was sitting beside the open door (unabashedly eavesdropping on my boys - hehe) and asked mica "what will you wear? are you ok with that?" he was very nonchalant about it - just tipped his head to one side and shrugged his shoulders and said "yes. i'll wear my crocs!" then he smiled and it was a smile that very clearly said that he's "kuya" and so he'll give in to his brothers.
rafa went and dug up his old socks - he got the one that was less dirty - and asked me if he could wear it. he looked near tears because he didn't have socks and he wanted to wear his rubber shoes too, so i said yes. the smile he gave me was blinding in intensity! it was as if the sun had come out from behind storm clouds and burned away even a hint of shadow! it was brilliant!
i can't wait to listen to them deal with each other over bigger things! =) what a trip that will be! =)
mica was patiently listening to gabe, all the while compante because his yaya packed more than enough socks for him, so he was fine! putting on his last pair of clean socks while listening to gabe and rafa. after a while, he pulls off his socks and announces: "you can wear my socks." and gabe, quick as a snake, snatches the socks (before kuya changes his mind) and yells out "thank you, kuya!!! MOMMY!!! Kuya lent me his socks!! I can wear my shoes na!!!" his smile was triumphant and exhilarated!
I came out from the room, where i was sitting beside the open door (unabashedly eavesdropping on my boys - hehe) and asked mica "what will you wear? are you ok with that?" he was very nonchalant about it - just tipped his head to one side and shrugged his shoulders and said "yes. i'll wear my crocs!" then he smiled and it was a smile that very clearly said that he's "kuya" and so he'll give in to his brothers.
rafa went and dug up his old socks - he got the one that was less dirty - and asked me if he could wear it. he looked near tears because he didn't have socks and he wanted to wear his rubber shoes too, so i said yes. the smile he gave me was blinding in intensity! it was as if the sun had come out from behind storm clouds and burned away even a hint of shadow! it was brilliant!
i can't wait to listen to them deal with each other over bigger things! =) what a trip that will be! =)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
a question of trust
let me just say this at the outset: i know that my current yayas are not hurting my children. my question is; how would you know when your child is being looked after properly by the yaya you've hired? i mean, really... how would you know? would your child tell you? what if they think that you know what the yaya is doing and that, since you aren't stopping it, you are in agreement with it? what if, when you're around, your yaya is nice and obedient, but when you leave or your back is turned, she's pinching your kid? short of putting in video cameras and microphones in every room in the house to spy on them, what is the next best thing?
i'm being very vigilant with my yayas. i've had some yayas who were hurting my boys before. this was when the boys were younger and they weren't talking yet. my current yayas know that if i catch them or if i hear one just one incident of them hitting or hurting my boys, i will fire them without hesitation. and they assure me that they aren't the type to hurt children. "hindi sila nananakit" is what they say. i believe them. i have to...
but, here's the kicker - what if they aren't physically hurting your child, but emotionally scarring them? telling them that they're stupid or making them feel like they're not wanted? beating them down emotionally by telling them that they're "leave-able" - the yaya won't stay because they're not good boys (or girls)?
i'm so concerned that i talk to my yayas individually about this. i'm very quick to stop that sort of thing - the soft comments they make that are meant only for the ears of their alaga is exactly what i listen for. thank God that my yayas aren't used to making these comments (either that or they're very good at hiding it!), so i'm not having a hard time with this.
we have to trust our yayas... because we have to work... not everyone has the luxury of staying home and just caring for the children. i'm sure that that's the ideal, but in the world of today, a lot of moms have to go out and work.
i got to thinking about this because rafa couldn't sleep... i don't know if it's because his yaya is "madaldal" (according to the other 2 yayas, she badgers him "dapat matulog ka na! yan kasi ice cream ng ice cream, etc." - how can he sleep if she doesn't shut up?) or because he's just not sleepy. but they know that we're watching them very closely, so i don't think his yaya is doing anything, but the fear is there...
after talking it out, over, sideways and under, and scaring ourselves with nightmare scenarios, tabby and i have come back to what we've decided before - we have to trust our yayas... and pray really hard! =)
i'm being very vigilant with my yayas. i've had some yayas who were hurting my boys before. this was when the boys were younger and they weren't talking yet. my current yayas know that if i catch them or if i hear one just one incident of them hitting or hurting my boys, i will fire them without hesitation. and they assure me that they aren't the type to hurt children. "hindi sila nananakit" is what they say. i believe them. i have to...
but, here's the kicker - what if they aren't physically hurting your child, but emotionally scarring them? telling them that they're stupid or making them feel like they're not wanted? beating them down emotionally by telling them that they're "leave-able" - the yaya won't stay because they're not good boys (or girls)?
i'm so concerned that i talk to my yayas individually about this. i'm very quick to stop that sort of thing - the soft comments they make that are meant only for the ears of their alaga is exactly what i listen for. thank God that my yayas aren't used to making these comments (either that or they're very good at hiding it!), so i'm not having a hard time with this.
we have to trust our yayas... because we have to work... not everyone has the luxury of staying home and just caring for the children. i'm sure that that's the ideal, but in the world of today, a lot of moms have to go out and work.
i got to thinking about this because rafa couldn't sleep... i don't know if it's because his yaya is "madaldal" (according to the other 2 yayas, she badgers him "dapat matulog ka na! yan kasi ice cream ng ice cream, etc." - how can he sleep if she doesn't shut up?) or because he's just not sleepy. but they know that we're watching them very closely, so i don't think his yaya is doing anything, but the fear is there...
after talking it out, over, sideways and under, and scaring ourselves with nightmare scenarios, tabby and i have come back to what we've decided before - we have to trust our yayas... and pray really hard! =)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
it's all in the diaper!
i've always known that i'm super lucky when it comes to having tabby as my children's father. he's such a hands on dad, it's amazing! my brother likes to tease him that he's under and it's demeaning for him to be the one to change the diapers and all that, but the proof is in the pudding! my boys loove their father. they love him to bits and pieces! his approval is important to them, the time he spends with them is golden! although they look for me, it's usually because they're asking for something or want to do something that they know papa won't approve of! for example, they will ask me for pepperoni pizza, but would never dream of even hinting to papa that they want pizza for dinner. haha =)
i read this article in Baby Zone's page (i signed up to get updates on the weekly development of joachim) and it all became clear to me why our boys are so good and sweet and loving... it's because their papa changed their diapers! (to the men reading this: are you listening?) read on! =)
click on the title below to read it on the original page or just read on =)
Baby's Brain in Week 12
He may never make a peep about it, but by now, Dad might feel that Baby prefers Mom—and that may bum him out. When he holds Baby, she may squirm and look around for Mom. And when passed to Mom, Baby may quiet almost instantly.
The big secret? The only real preference that Baby has for Mommy is that she, if nursing, is Baby's sole source for food, which she knows she needs to survive. Even when not nursing, a breastfeeding mom's scent provides comfort as her child associates it with breast milk. (Remember those week 4 pacifier studies?) Ultimately, Baby may seem more relaxed with Mom over Dad because she knows, instinctively, that Mom equals food.
Yet other than nursing, dads are fully capable of all caregiving tasks: feeding from a bottle, burping, rocking, comforting, playing, and changing diapers. We now know that the messier the task he undertakes, the better Dad's chances are of having Baby cozy up to him.
What the Research Shows
Researchers wanted to know the difference between the dads whose children readily turned to them and those who didn't. They conducted a study that involved counting the diapers that the dads changed. For the daddies who took the time and got beyond the ick factor, changing diapers seemed to secure the child's attachment to Dad as well as to Mom: The more diapers dads changed, the more babies turned to their fathers for comfort when distressed—even when mom was in the vicinity.
Really, there's nothing magical about diapering when it comes to solidifying the father-infant bond—the research doesn't suggest that men necessarily have a better technique or strategy that babies like better. What diapering does provide, however, is an interactive time for the child and diaperer to get well-acquainted. It's an intimate social time that familiarizes Baby with the person in charge of the task, thereby building her trust in that person.
And chances are, if Dad's changing lots of diapers, he's likely doing other things to care for his child as well, which leads to a stronger attachment. In about six months or so, Baby will identify a "primary attachment figure" (or figures)—someone she'll demand when she's distressed or needs care. For some children this person is definitely Mom; for others, it's either Mom or Dad.
So every solid effort Dad makes right now to care for Baby helps her feel safe with him. As she gets older, she will approach him for all sorts of needs, further developing their relationship. And not only that, but children are also more likely to reach their potential when they know Dad really cares.
i read this article in Baby Zone's page (i signed up to get updates on the weekly development of joachim) and it all became clear to me why our boys are so good and sweet and loving... it's because their papa changed their diapers! (to the men reading this: are you listening?) read on! =)
click on the title below to read it on the original page or just read on =)
Baby's Brain in Week 12
He may never make a peep about it, but by now, Dad might feel that Baby prefers Mom—and that may bum him out. When he holds Baby, she may squirm and look around for Mom. And when passed to Mom, Baby may quiet almost instantly.
The big secret? The only real preference that Baby has for Mommy is that she, if nursing, is Baby's sole source for food, which she knows she needs to survive. Even when not nursing, a breastfeeding mom's scent provides comfort as her child associates it with breast milk. (Remember those week 4 pacifier studies?) Ultimately, Baby may seem more relaxed with Mom over Dad because she knows, instinctively, that Mom equals food.
Yet other than nursing, dads are fully capable of all caregiving tasks: feeding from a bottle, burping, rocking, comforting, playing, and changing diapers. We now know that the messier the task he undertakes, the better Dad's chances are of having Baby cozy up to him.
What the Research Shows
Researchers wanted to know the difference between the dads whose children readily turned to them and those who didn't. They conducted a study that involved counting the diapers that the dads changed. For the daddies who took the time and got beyond the ick factor, changing diapers seemed to secure the child's attachment to Dad as well as to Mom: The more diapers dads changed, the more babies turned to their fathers for comfort when distressed—even when mom was in the vicinity.
Really, there's nothing magical about diapering when it comes to solidifying the father-infant bond—the research doesn't suggest that men necessarily have a better technique or strategy that babies like better. What diapering does provide, however, is an interactive time for the child and diaperer to get well-acquainted. It's an intimate social time that familiarizes Baby with the person in charge of the task, thereby building her trust in that person.
And chances are, if Dad's changing lots of diapers, he's likely doing other things to care for his child as well, which leads to a stronger attachment. In about six months or so, Baby will identify a "primary attachment figure" (or figures)—someone she'll demand when she's distressed or needs care. For some children this person is definitely Mom; for others, it's either Mom or Dad.
So every solid effort Dad makes right now to care for Baby helps her feel safe with him. As she gets older, she will approach him for all sorts of needs, further developing their relationship. And not only that, but children are also more likely to reach their potential when they know Dad really cares.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Joachim's Baptism
held on August 31, 2008 at 2:30pm in St. Alphonsus Mary de Ligouri in Magallanes with the reception at the Willow Root in Manila Polo Club =)
Joachim was an angel! Slept through the whole thing! Everyone fussed around and over him, but he remained oblivious! haha
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Pamahiin
What's up with this "puera usog" thing that I hear everytime I bring my baby out with me? If i don't hear it from the salesgirl/secretary/stranger that's commenting on my baby, I hear it from my yaya! i find it rude when my yayas do this and i get diyahe to whover is making nice comments on my baby! it just seems rude - like my yayas are "warding off" evil...
so i asked my dad about it. he explained that there are people who are (knowingly or unknowingly) "talented"... in the sense that when they see you or comment on you (yes, it's not restricted to babies!), you are unable to settle down - you feel sick, can't concentrate and, in general, are unwell. The only way to get rid of this is to have that person's saliva smeared on your foot. yes, their saliva.
there are other pamahiins out there - like gabe's yaya told me that i should always feed joachim from the right breast before giving him the left. this is because the right breast is the "ulam" and the left is the water. hahaha also, i shouldn't breastfeed when i'm hungry or no matter how long joachim eats, he'll still be hungry! another one is that i shouldn't drink anything cold or joachim will have gas...
i'm not knocking all of the pamahiins out there... i'm sure that there are some that have a basis in fact and are valid! what old wives' tale do you know? =)
so i asked my dad about it. he explained that there are people who are (knowingly or unknowingly) "talented"... in the sense that when they see you or comment on you (yes, it's not restricted to babies!), you are unable to settle down - you feel sick, can't concentrate and, in general, are unwell. The only way to get rid of this is to have that person's saliva smeared on your foot. yes, their saliva.
there are other pamahiins out there - like gabe's yaya told me that i should always feed joachim from the right breast before giving him the left. this is because the right breast is the "ulam" and the left is the water. hahaha also, i shouldn't breastfeed when i'm hungry or no matter how long joachim eats, he'll still be hungry! another one is that i shouldn't drink anything cold or joachim will have gas...
i'm not knocking all of the pamahiins out there... i'm sure that there are some that have a basis in fact and are valid! what old wives' tale do you know? =)
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
my boys
they are the cutest things... really! at 23 days of age, joachim is so sweet (already!)... i was holding him upright, against my shoulder to burp him and he moved his head very carefully and oh so slowly to rest it against my cheek. melted my heart into a puddle
gabe and rafa are funny because, even if joachim is already out of my tummy, they still high-five, give a thumbs up (good job) and do a line (index fingers touching) to my tummy. and they're very gentle with me. and with joachim, too! they crowd around him whenever he's around and they always want to hold his hand or, failing that, will settle for holding his foot!
mica naman wants joachim to sleep with him in his room! he's willing to share not only his room, his yaya and his toys, but his bed and blanket too!
i must have done something right to deserve my boys... God is so good to me...
gabe and rafa are funny because, even if joachim is already out of my tummy, they still high-five, give a thumbs up (good job) and do a line (index fingers touching) to my tummy. and they're very gentle with me. and with joachim, too! they crowd around him whenever he's around and they always want to hold his hand or, failing that, will settle for holding his foot!
mica naman wants joachim to sleep with him in his room! he's willing to share not only his room, his yaya and his toys, but his bed and blanket too!
i must have done something right to deserve my boys... God is so good to me...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A Catholic case Against Barack
i received this in my email today and i'm so disturbed by it. read on...
you can check out an article in the Associated Content about this as well: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/77500/barack_hussein_obama_jr_defends_partialbirth.html
I read up on partial birth abortion and it's horrifying! Click here to read up on it. my heart and mind shudders away from even the thought of it. And this man (and his wife!!) are proponents of it? it defies belief...
you can check out an article in the Associated Content about this as well: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/77500/barack_hussein_obama_jr_defends_partialbirth.html
I read up on partial birth abortion and it's horrifying! Click here to read up on it. my heart and mind shudders away from even the thought of it. And this man (and his wife!!) are proponents of it? it defies belief...
A Catholic case Against Barack
by Patrick J. Buchanan (more by this author)
In the
But if Barack had a problem with Catholics then, he has a far higher hurdle to surmount in the fall, with those millions of Catholics who still take their faith and moral code seriously.
For not only is Barack the most pro-abortion member of the Senate, with his straight A+ report card from the National Abortion Rights Action League and Planned Parenthood. He supports the late-term procedure known as partial-birth abortion, where the baby's skull is stabbed with scissors in the birth canal and the brains are sucked out to end its life swiftly and ease passage of the corpse into the pan.
Partial-birth abortion, said the late Sen. Pat Moynihan, "comes as close to infanticide as anything I have seen in our judiciary."
Yet, when Congress was voting to ban this terrible form of death for a mature fetus, Michelle Obama was signing fundraising letters pledging that, if elected, Barack would be “tireless” in keeping legal this “legitimate medical procedure.”
And Barack did not let the militants down. When the Supreme Court upheld the congressional ban on this barbaric procedure, Barack denounced the court for denying “equal rights for women.”
As David Freddoso reports in his new best-seller, “The Case Against Barack Obama,” the
Thrice in the
How can a man who purports to be a Christian justify this?
If, as its advocates contend, abortion has to remain legal to protect the life and health, mental and physical, of the mother, how is a mother's life or health in the least threatened by a baby no longer inside her -- but lying on a table or in a pan fighting for life and breath?
How is it essential for the life or health of a woman that her baby, who somehow survived the horrible ordeal of abortion, be left to die or put to death? Yet, that is what Obama voted for, thrice, in the Illinois Senate.
When a bill almost identical to the one Barack fought in
Obama says he opposed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act because he feared it might imperil Roe v. Wade. But if Roe v. Wade did allow infanticide or murder, which is what letting a tiny baby die of neglect or killing it outright amounts to, why would he not want that court decision reviewed and amended to outlaw infanticide?
Is the right to an abortion so sacrosanct to Obama that killing by neglect or snuffing out of the life of tiny babies outside the womb must be protected if necessary to preserve that right? Obama is an abortion absolutist. “I could find no instance in his entire career,” writes Freddoso, “in which he voted for any regulation or restriction on the practice of abortion.”
In 2007, Barack pledged that, in his first act as president, he will sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would cancel every federal, state or local regulation or restriction on abortion. The National Organization for Women says it would abolish all restrictions on government funding of abortion.
What we once called God's Country would become the nation on earth most zealously committed to an unrestricted right of abortion from conception to birth.
Before any devout Catholic, Evangelical Christian or Orthodox Jew votes for Obama, he or she might spend 15 minutes in Chapter 10 of Freddoso’s “Case Against Barack.” For if, as Catholics believe, abortion is the killing of an unborn child, and participation in an abortion entails automatic excommunication, how can a good Catholic support a candidate who will appoint justices to make Roe v. Wade eternal and eliminate all restrictions on a practice Catholics legislators have fought for three decades to curtail?
And which Catholic priests and prelates will it be who give invocations at Obama rallies, even as Mother Church fights to save the lives of unborn children whom Obama believes have no right to life and no rights at all?
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Blue swirl lamp by Lampe Berger
| Category: | Household Goods |
| Price: | 4500.00 |
The secret of the Lampe Berger is encapsulated in the catalytic effect developed over 100 years ago by Maurice Berger, a pharmaceutical chemist. The catalytic burner captures and destroys molecules that carry odors. The air is purified at a lower temperature zone, at the center of the burner. The mixing of the air and the movement from convection, due to the presence of hot points on the burner, ensure that odors are destroyed.
At least 48-69% of the bacteria found in a large volume of air are killed.
Where other products simply add perfume to cover unpleasant odors, the Lampe Berger actually purifies the atmosphere before perfuming it. Today, it is still the effectiveness and originality of this natural principle that ensures the success of the Lampe Berger in homes and offices around the world.
You'll be amazed how quickly the Berger lamp eliminates cigarette smoke and pet odors; it'll freshen a smoke-filled room in a matter of minutes. As for your kitchen, say good-bye to unwanted cooking odors; the Berger lamp will wipe out disagreeable smells such as tuyo!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
being a new mom (again!)
I find that being a new mom for the fourth time is more relaxing... don't get me wrong... it's still a challenge - mostly because i've forgotten how painful having a c-section is! when i first stood up (the day after i gave birth), it felt like acid was being poured on the incision site. it was terrible! but i managed to hobble to the bathroom - dragging the iv pole behind me. It was hard sitting up to breastfeed in bed, but so much harder moving around - having to get up to go to the nursery in makati med was not fun. the policy of the nursery is: when you're no longer attached to the iv, they won't bring your baby to you in your room anymore. they want you to go to them. i understand the rationale behind it. it's better for the newborn because they're not exposed to the dirty air of the hallways of makati med. but it's difficult for the mommy. whether you give birth normally or have a c-section, it's equally difficult.
tabby and i decided to have joachim room in with us on our last night there. mostly because i felt like the nurses in the nursery weren't reading joachim correctly. they would call me to go to the nursery to feed him, even if he wasn't hungry. according to them, he's hungry if he opens his eyes. hello?! so i would rush (as much as was possible) to the nursery because i didn't want him to cry too hard while waiting for me... when i get there, he's not crying. and when i settle in to feed him, he sucks for about 2 minutes and then falls asleep... for an hour! i'm there, holding him in the breastfeeding room, trying to gently wake him up so he can eat... but he's sleepy. maybe he was just looking for me to hold him. so ok lang... but when i decide to go back to the room and sleep (it's ususally about 3 or 4 in the morning na), the nursery calls me after 30 minutes because he's awake and want to eat daw. frustrating.
anyway, having him room in with us was an experience. i didn't realize that when he's roomed in with us, as far as the nursery is concerned, he's been discharged from the hospital. they don't check on him - nothing. the ones taking his vital signs were the student nurses. umm... not exactly the way i imagined makati med taking care of my boy. they didn't even make him hatid to the entrance when i was discharged the next day. i found that strange.
now, 2 weeks after giving birth, i'm home and healing well, i think. the pain is going away - it just hurts when i sneeze or cough, when i stand up too fast or when i walk around without the abdominal binder. i still can't sit up from lying down because it hurts, but it's getting easier.
it could be that i'm older, and so am having an easier time with everything - giving him a bath, changing diapers, calming him down when he's crying... everything. i think that it has to do with being more calm and more sure of myself as a mother. this time around, i know what i want and how i want things to be done - especially when it comes to my baby. i'm more able to sit back and simply enjoy being a mother!
the challenge is to balance being a new mom to joachim and being the mom of mica, gabe and rafa. it's difficult having to balance the needs of mica, gabe and rafa with regards to joachim with the safety and comfort of joachim. i know that the older boys need to feel needed - need to be included in taking care of the baby. i know that they want to be included and want to be the one helping me to take care of the baby so, in a sense, things are easier for me. it's just that in their eagerness to help, tabby and i are concerned (the yayas, too) that they might hurt (inadvertently) joachim.
it's cool, though. things are good here at home. they're so cute when they talk about their baby brother... the boys call him "my joachim" and "my baby"! they're so aware of their newest brother, it's amazing! the three have always been close - you can't give one something without the question "what about for kuya? for gabriel (rafael)?" coming at you... now, they've added "what about for joachim?"
i catch myself tearing over the kindness and love the boys have for each other... and laugh at their antics. i can only imagine the chaos to come when joachim is older and able to participate in their games!
tabby and i decided to have joachim room in with us on our last night there. mostly because i felt like the nurses in the nursery weren't reading joachim correctly. they would call me to go to the nursery to feed him, even if he wasn't hungry. according to them, he's hungry if he opens his eyes. hello?! so i would rush (as much as was possible) to the nursery because i didn't want him to cry too hard while waiting for me... when i get there, he's not crying. and when i settle in to feed him, he sucks for about 2 minutes and then falls asleep... for an hour! i'm there, holding him in the breastfeeding room, trying to gently wake him up so he can eat... but he's sleepy. maybe he was just looking for me to hold him. so ok lang... but when i decide to go back to the room and sleep (it's ususally about 3 or 4 in the morning na), the nursery calls me after 30 minutes because he's awake and want to eat daw. frustrating.
anyway, having him room in with us was an experience. i didn't realize that when he's roomed in with us, as far as the nursery is concerned, he's been discharged from the hospital. they don't check on him - nothing. the ones taking his vital signs were the student nurses. umm... not exactly the way i imagined makati med taking care of my boy. they didn't even make him hatid to the entrance when i was discharged the next day. i found that strange.
now, 2 weeks after giving birth, i'm home and healing well, i think. the pain is going away - it just hurts when i sneeze or cough, when i stand up too fast or when i walk around without the abdominal binder. i still can't sit up from lying down because it hurts, but it's getting easier.
it could be that i'm older, and so am having an easier time with everything - giving him a bath, changing diapers, calming him down when he's crying... everything. i think that it has to do with being more calm and more sure of myself as a mother. this time around, i know what i want and how i want things to be done - especially when it comes to my baby. i'm more able to sit back and simply enjoy being a mother!
the challenge is to balance being a new mom to joachim and being the mom of mica, gabe and rafa. it's difficult having to balance the needs of mica, gabe and rafa with regards to joachim with the safety and comfort of joachim. i know that the older boys need to feel needed - need to be included in taking care of the baby. i know that they want to be included and want to be the one helping me to take care of the baby so, in a sense, things are easier for me. it's just that in their eagerness to help, tabby and i are concerned (the yayas, too) that they might hurt (inadvertently) joachim.
it's cool, though. things are good here at home. they're so cute when they talk about their baby brother... the boys call him "my joachim" and "my baby"! they're so aware of their newest brother, it's amazing! the three have always been close - you can't give one something without the question "what about for kuya? for gabriel (rafael)?" coming at you... now, they've added "what about for joachim?"
i catch myself tearing over the kindness and love the boys have for each other... and laugh at their antics. i can only imagine the chaos to come when joachim is older and able to participate in their games!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Our newest angel, Joachim Uriel V. Drilon
Born on Aug. 1, 2008 at 10:57am in Makati Med, he was 7 lbs and 15 oz heavy and 20.5 inches long! =)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
abduction in festival mall...
there's a blog entry from one of my contacts' friends saying that her nephew was abducted in festival mall. this isn't a joke and she, her brother and their family is frantic with worry. her nephew is sickly pa daw and only about 3 years old. please read her blog entry and, if you know of a way to help, please do!
click here
i don't know what i would do if one of my boys were taken... my heart shudders at the thought of strangers taking my sweet little boys.
click here
i don't know what i would do if one of my boys were taken... my heart shudders at the thought of strangers taking my sweet little boys.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
34 weeks!
The countdown begins! I went to my OB today and she said that I can give birth as early as within 3 weeks! Oh my... I was relieved when she told me that I have plenty of water (amniotic fluid) now. 2 weeks ago, she told me that my water levels were alarmingly low and that I should drink between 2-3 liters of water a day to hydrate myself and give my body the chance to filter that into amniotic fluid. I took her words to heart and have been drinking at least 104 ounces of water a day. What does that translate to? It's 3.04 liters of water. Of course, this also helps with my kidneys because i'm flushing out the stones! -- hopefully, by the time i go back to my urologist, he'll tell me that they're gone! haha (there's always that hope!!)
I'm aiming for the at least the first week of August to give birth... Right now, my little one is transverse in my tummy - that means he's lying sideways. Not a good thing. If I go into labor now, there is no way i would give birth because his back is to my cervix. So, I'm supposed to gently encourage him to move into the correct position (head down) by rubbing on his butt to move it up. Otherwise, I'll have to undergo a cesarean. That isn't so bad, actually. I found it easier to recover from my c-section (for the twins) than my normal delivery (for micael)... But then again... I was younger then. I can honestly say that I'm apprehensive about this birth. I'm definitely not looking forward to the pain, but I know that it's necessary. I offer up to God the worries I have, the pain I will endure (during and after the birth) and the joy I will feel when I finally look at the face of my newest bundle of joy!
My little one is (according to the ultrasound machine) 5 lbs and 5 ounces. Wow... I'm constantly amazed by the miracle that is my unborn child. It is amazing to me that he is alive and sleeps just under my heart...
I look at my boys now and I remember when they were small and I am awed by their growth and strength. The sheer strength of their personalities are so amazing to me! They have definite opinions, wants and needs. They are very definitely their own persons! I am humbled by the part I played in bringing them into this world and I love them so very much. In preparation for the birth of Joachim Uriel, i've been spending loads of time with Mica, Gabe and Rafa. Sort of like banking time with them because after I give birth, my attention will be, by necessity, on Joachim. So I'm hoping that they'll remember that I spent a lot of time and gave them lots of attention now...
I know they'll be awesome older brothers to Joachim. And they are already such sweethearts that it makes me cry... The way Mica's face lights up when he feels Joachim move in my tummy; Gabe's way of hugging me and speaking directly to his younger brother (in my tummy), totally bypassing me; and Rafa always remembers to say good night, hello or good bye to Joachim is truly amazing! They are so excited to see him already!
(there's always that hope!!) I'm aiming for the at least the first week of August to give birth... Right now, my little one is transverse in my tummy - that means he's lying sideways. Not a good thing. If I go into labor now, there is no way i would give birth because his back is to my cervix. So, I'm supposed to gently encourage him to move into the correct position (head down) by rubbing on his butt to move it up. Otherwise, I'll have to undergo a cesarean. That isn't so bad, actually. I found it easier to recover from my c-section (for the twins) than my normal delivery (for micael)... But then again... I was younger then. I can honestly say that I'm apprehensive about this birth. I'm definitely not looking forward to the pain, but I know that it's necessary. I offer up to God the worries I have, the pain I will endure (during and after the birth) and the joy I will feel when I finally look at the face of my newest bundle of joy!
My little one is (according to the ultrasound machine) 5 lbs and 5 ounces. Wow... I'm constantly amazed by the miracle that is my unborn child. It is amazing to me that he is alive and sleeps just under my heart...
I look at my boys now and I remember when they were small and I am awed by their growth and strength. The sheer strength of their personalities are so amazing to me! They have definite opinions, wants and needs. They are very definitely their own persons! I am humbled by the part I played in bringing them into this world and I love them so very much. In preparation for the birth of Joachim Uriel, i've been spending loads of time with Mica, Gabe and Rafa. Sort of like banking time with them because after I give birth, my attention will be, by necessity, on Joachim. So I'm hoping that they'll remember that I spent a lot of time and gave them lots of attention now...
I know they'll be awesome older brothers to Joachim. And they are already such sweethearts that it makes me cry... The way Mica's face lights up when he feels Joachim move in my tummy; Gabe's way of hugging me and speaking directly to his younger brother (in my tummy), totally bypassing me; and Rafa always remembers to say good night, hello or good bye to Joachim is truly amazing! They are so excited to see him already!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
baby bottles
I'm so sad... the bottles (the first years - breastflow) i was planning to get for my newborn isn't bpa-free. i'm hoping that they come up with a bpa-free version before i give birth in august. riight... i guess i'll have to get another type of bottle. i'm thinking of glass bottles. i might steer clear of the plastic bottles because you never know what they'll discover a few years from now. 5 years ago, avent was the best bottle around and now, they're found to have bpa!
you can check if your bottles are bpa-free at these websites:
http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/07/z-report-bisphenol-in-polycarbonate.html
http://www.mommyauctions.com/blog/2007/10/01/kitchen-raid-2007-what%E2%80%99s-the-scoop-on-all-the-bpa-free-hype/
they also rate and recommend bottles. good luck to all the mommies and daddies out there who are stressing out about bpa!
i'm hoping that they come up with a bpa-free version before i give birth in august. riight... i guess i'll have to get another type of bottle. i'm thinking of glass bottles. i might steer clear of the plastic bottles because you never know what they'll discover a few years from now. 5 years ago, avent was the best bottle around and now, they're found to have bpa! you can check if your bottles are bpa-free at these websites:
http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/07/z-report-bisphenol-in-polycarbonate.html
http://www.mommyauctions.com/blog/2007/10/01/kitchen-raid-2007-what%E2%80%99s-the-scoop-on-all-the-bpa-free-hype/
they also rate and recommend bottles. good luck to all the mommies and daddies out there who are stressing out about bpa!
33 weeks!
I'm at 33 weeks! I can't believe it! Time flies... I was admitted to Makati Med last week because I had high fever, was chilling and generally felt like crap. We found out (well, the doctors did) that it was because i had uti due to complications from having kidney stones. Of course, Tabby was like "Yan! Kasi! No more na salt and patis!!" >sigh< oh well...
So, now I'm out and i've been avoiding salty foods... can you believe i haven't had patis or added salt to anything i've eaten?! (in the interest of honesty, i had soy sauce with my sushi, but that's it!) i'm so proud of me! haha =)
Since i've been released from the hospital, i get tired more easily. i'm more prone to cramping and i feel more delicate. i feel like this pregnancy is taking forever, but i know that in about 5 weeks, i'll get to see my baby na! it's so soon! i've realized that i've been putting off stuff that shouldn't be put off... like getting the newborn clothes out of storage and having them washed and put away in my room or getting the receiving blankets ready or bringing the crib out... it seems to me like i'm so woefully unprepared. i need to make more of an effort to get things ready for my newest love...
So, now I'm out and i've been avoiding salty foods... can you believe i haven't had patis or added salt to anything i've eaten?! (in the interest of honesty, i had soy sauce with my sushi, but that's it!) i'm so proud of me! haha =)
Since i've been released from the hospital, i get tired more easily. i'm more prone to cramping and i feel more delicate. i feel like this pregnancy is taking forever, but i know that in about 5 weeks, i'll get to see my baby na! it's so soon! i've realized that i've been putting off stuff that shouldn't be put off... like getting the newborn clothes out of storage and having them washed and put away in my room or getting the receiving blankets ready or bringing the crib out... it seems to me like i'm so woefully unprepared. i need to make more of an effort to get things ready for my newest love...
Friday, June 6, 2008
Bad Breastfeeding Advice
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/bad-advice.htm
This is an awesome site! There are a lot of well-meaning advice going around out there about breastfeeding. This site will give you the reasons why they're wrong and will help you with successfully breastfeeding your precious bundle of joy! If you are pregnant, or know anyone who is pregnant, please forward this so that they can also benefit from it.
They've got other pages with topics too! Ranging from storing breastmilk to topics just for dad... Enjoy! =)
This is an awesome site! There are a lot of well-meaning advice going around out there about breastfeeding. This site will give you the reasons why they're wrong and will help you with successfully breastfeeding your precious bundle of joy! If you are pregnant, or know anyone who is pregnant, please forward this so that they can also benefit from it.
They've got other pages with topics too! Ranging from storing breastmilk to topics just for dad... Enjoy! =)
Personalized Gauze Diapers
I ordered personalized diapers from Mel of Baby Basics (here on Multiply) and i'm sooo happy with them! Reasonable pa the prices!The one i pictured here is for my coming baby, but i ordered for all my boys. They were so excited when they got it because it has the first letter of their names silk screened on it. SUPER CUTE!!! Even my yayas were like: "wow! galeng talaga ni ma'am!" hahaha
Monday, June 2, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Fun Ranch in Ortigas
We took the kids to the Fun Ranch (where the Big Red Barn is), right beside Tiendesitas for the first time last Saturday, May 24, 2008. They had LOADS of fun! They've been asking when we're going back to ride the boat, the train and go fishing again! =) The boat and train ride were reasonable, but the fishing was kinda expensive... But the kids had fun and, in moderation, it's not so bad. I'm looking forward to bringing them back! =)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
shame on him...
Mom came home early last night and we had dinner at the table (me, tab, mom) and she was trying to get mikho to join us. he was playing WOW (world of warcraft) on his computer, which is right beside the dining table. you know what his response was? "I'm in the middle of something, mom. go ahead and eat." and when she insisted he join us, he just repeated himself more forcefully. he didn't even turn around to speak to her. how bastos is that? i tried to make light of it by asking him nicely to join us - "mik, mom's here. join us naman." but he just ignored me. hay naku.
tab and i just turned the topic to something else na lang to save face. kawawa naman our mom. i wish that mikho learns manners. after he finished his 'run', he stood up and joined us, but we were almost done. kakainis. i wanted to hit him for making mom bastos. but i didn't want to upset mom. shame on him.
tab and i just turned the topic to something else na lang to save face. kawawa naman our mom. i wish that mikho learns manners. after he finished his 'run', he stood up and joined us, but we were almost done. kakainis. i wanted to hit him for making mom bastos. but i didn't want to upset mom. shame on him.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tagaytay Trip May 17-18, 2008
We stayed at my Tita's place in Royal Pines West and it was beautiful! When we got there on Saturday, the wind was blowing, the air was cool and there was no sign of rain! Of course, it started raining that night, but it was still nice because we were cozy and together =)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
driving while pregnant...
I used to be horrified at the thought of a pregnant woman driving a car... Until I realized that I am that pregnant woman. It's almost comical, the faces on the drivers waiting in the driver's lounge in the malls when they see me come out from the driver's side of the car and that there's no one with me. Also the face of the security guard in polo where i bring the kids for their soccer 3 times a week. It's like they're waiting for someone else to get out of the car and then when they realize it's just me (hugely pregnant me) coming down from the car, they're shocked!
It's not something that i plan to be doing (driving that is) until i give birth. It's just that i have no driver, so it's a necessity for me to drive. There are days when I get so tired just from driving around that I'm crazy sungit... and it doesn't help when people with the best intentions get on my back about how i shouldn't drive. So... if you know of a driver that's looking for work, please contact me I've been looking for one, but am not having any luck with it.
I enjoy driving! Honestly, I find it easier to anticipate the bumps on the road because I'm in control of the car. This way, i don't get surprised and my tummy doesn't get jostled painfully. I'm already braced for the impact of the pothole on the car... Don't get me wrong. I don't drive very fast... My average is about 40kph! haha And even if I'm late, doesn't mean that i push the limit... my max speed is 80.
I always think of a friend of mine who i had dinner with a few months ago - she was 7 or 8 months pregnant and i was horrified to find out she was driving herself home from greenbelt! of course, she lives in sanlo, but still! just the thought that she was driving (alone!) to her place made me feel iffy... She just said that her in-laws, who live abroad, all drove themselves everywhere - even when they were pregnant. In fact, some of them even drove themselves to the hospital to give birth! So, if she can't drive herself home from greenbelt, kakahiya naman, diba?! I kinda understood it then, but now i understand it perfectly. I guess this is one situation where you have to be in it to fully understand
It's not something that i plan to be doing (driving that is) until i give birth. It's just that i have no driver, so it's a necessity for me to drive. There are days when I get so tired just from driving around that I'm crazy sungit... and it doesn't help when people with the best intentions get on my back about how i shouldn't drive. So... if you know of a driver that's looking for work, please contact me
I've been looking for one, but am not having any luck with it.I enjoy driving! Honestly, I find it easier to anticipate the bumps on the road because I'm in control of the car. This way, i don't get surprised and my tummy doesn't get jostled painfully. I'm already braced for the impact of the pothole on the car... Don't get me wrong. I don't drive very fast... My average is about 40kph! haha And even if I'm late, doesn't mean that i push the limit... my max speed is 80.
I always think of a friend of mine who i had dinner with a few months ago - she was 7 or 8 months pregnant and i was horrified to find out she was driving herself home from greenbelt! of course, she lives in sanlo, but still! just the thought that she was driving (alone!) to her place made me feel iffy... She just said that her in-laws, who live abroad, all drove themselves everywhere - even when they were pregnant. In fact, some of them even drove themselves to the hospital to give birth! So, if she can't drive herself home from greenbelt, kakahiya naman, diba?! I kinda understood it then, but now i understand it perfectly. I guess this is one situation where you have to be in it to fully understand
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
26 weeks and counting!
I'm getting a little impatient to give birth... I've gotten past the nausea (mostly), but now have wonderful heartburn and pains in my abdomen and back. Also, I have that great thing - edema. My feet and legs get really manas by early afternoon and by evening, it's almost painful to walk. People ask how different this pregnancy is from my last 2 pregnancies and I tell them that it's different in almost every way! It's a bit more complicated this time around... I'm going to take the Glucose Challenge Test - to see if I have gestational diabetes this week. Hopefully, it will be negative (like my last pregnancies)...
I've gotten through some tough times - emotionally - over the last few weeks. Most of it can be attributed to the hormones running wild through my system. But some situations were just... too much. In order to save my sanity, I've had to distance myself from certain people. I'm determined to hold them at arm's length so that I don't get too annoyed. I'm moving forward.
Aside from that though, things have been good for me If I don't count driving myself around because I don't have a driver yet (I'm looking for one, so if you have someone to recommend, please let me know! ), I'm enjoying my time with the kids. That's basically all I'm doing now. Bringing the kids to soccer, tennis and then resting in between... Hanging out with Nikka, Ate, Tab and some other people... It's been relaxing and I'm totally enjoying myself!
My little one is active and I'm always happy to feel him move and kick! The kids loove feeling him kick! They put their ears against my tummy and then when he kicks them, they laugh! Such sweethearts, my boys...
I've gotten through some tough times - emotionally - over the last few weeks. Most of it can be attributed to the hormones running wild through my system. But some situations were just... too much. In order to save my sanity, I've had to distance myself from certain people. I'm determined to hold them at arm's length so that I don't get too annoyed. I'm moving forward.
Aside from that though, things have been good for me
If I don't count driving myself around because I don't have a driver yet (I'm looking for one, so if you have someone to recommend, please let me know! ), I'm enjoying my time with the kids. That's basically all I'm doing now. Bringing the kids to soccer, tennis and then resting in between... Hanging out with Nikka, Ate, Tab and some other people... It's been relaxing and I'm totally enjoying myself! My little one is active and I'm always happy to feel him move and kick! The kids loove feeling him kick! They put their ears against my tummy and then when he kicks them, they laugh! Such sweethearts, my boys...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
What is Laminin? - Louie Giglio
http://jojolim76.multiply.com/video/item/76/What_is_Laminin_-_Louie_Giglio
Every living creature has laminin inside of them…the purpose of laminin is that it basically keeps our bodies from falling apart. It holds us as one united whole. It’s like the glue that holds our cells together.
God is really in the little details! =)
Every living creature has laminin inside of them…the purpose of laminin is that it basically keeps our bodies from falling apart. It holds us as one united whole. It’s like the glue that holds our cells together.
God is really in the little details! =)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Trusting God
I've received this before and have sent it out as well. But this time, I think that maybe God has something specific He wants to say to me that I haven't been hearing. I think His message to me is about trusting Him. I have to let go of those situations and people that hurt me and trust that He is taking care of me. I have to trust that God will protect me and will always be on my side. So... here's the message that is moving me now.
She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room.
She said:
"How is my little boy ?
Is he going to be all right ? When can I see him ?"
The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could,
but your boy didn't make it."
Sally said,
"Why do little children get cancer ?
Doesn't God care any more ?
"Where were you, God,
when my son needed you ?"
The surgeon asked,
"Would you like some
time alone with your son ? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes,
before he's transported
to the university."
Sally asked the nurse to
stay with her while she said good bye to her son.
She ran her fingers lovingly through
his thick red curly hair.
"Would you like a lock of his hair ?" the nurse asked.
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's
hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.
The mother said,
"It was Jimmy's idea
to donate his body to
The University for Study.
He said it might help somebody else.
"I said no at first, but Jimmy said,
" Mom , I won't be using it after I die.
Maybe it will help some other little boy
spend one more day
with his Mom ."
She went on,
"My Jimmy had
a heart of gold.
Always thinking of
someone else.
Always wanting to help others
if he could."
Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last
time, after spending most of the last six months there.
She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.
The drive home was difficult. It was even harder
to enter the empty house.
She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair
to her son's room.
She started placing the model cars and other personal
things back in his room exactly where
he had always kept them.
She laid down
across his bed
and, hugging his pillow,
cried herself to sleep.
It was around midnight
when Sally awoke.
Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter.
The letter said:
* Dear Mom ,
I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say
"I Love You".
I will always love you, Mom , even more with each day. Someday we will see
each other again.
Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy
so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me.
He can have my room and all my stuff to play with.
But, if you decide to get a girl instead,
she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do.
"How is my little boy ?
Is he going to be all right ? When can I see him ?"
The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could,
but your boy didn't make it."
Sally said,
"Why do little children get cancer ?
Doesn't God care any more ?
"Where were you, God,
when my son needed you ?"
The surgeon asked,
"Would you like some
time alone with your son ? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes,
before he's transported
to the university."
Sally asked the nurse to
stay with her while she said good bye to her son.
She ran her fingers lovingly through
his thick red curly hair.
"Would you like a lock of his hair ?" the nurse asked.
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's
hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.
The mother said,
"It was Jimmy's idea
to donate his body to
The University for Study.
He said it might help somebody else.
"I said no at first, but Jimmy said,
" Mom , I won't be using it after I die.
Maybe it will help some other little boy
spend one more day
with his Mom ."
She went on,
"My Jimmy had
a heart of gold.
Always thinking of
someone else.
Always wanting to help others
if he could."
Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last
time, after spending most of the last six months there.
She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.
The drive home was difficult. It was even harder
to enter the empty house.
She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair
to her son's room.
She started placing the model cars and other personal
things back in his room exactly where
he had always kept them.
She laid down
across his bed
and, hugging his pillow,
cried herself to sleep.
It was around midnight
when Sally awoke.
Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter.
The letter said:
* Dear Mom ,
I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say
"I Love You".
I will always love you, Mom , even more with each day. Someday we will see
each other again.
Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy
so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me.
He can have my room and all my stuff to play with.
But, if you decide to get a girl instead,
she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do.
You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad
thinking about me.
This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here
and showed me around some, but it will take a long time
to see everything.
The angels are so cool.
I love to watch them fly.
And, you know what?
Jesus doesn't look
like any of his pictures.
Yet, when I saw Him,
I knew it was Him.
Jesus himself took me to see GOD !
And guess what, Mom ?
I got to sit on God's knee
and talk to Him,
like I was
somebody important.
That's when I told Him that
I wanted
to write you a letter,
to tell you good bye
and everything.
But I already knew that wasn't allowed.
Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen
to write you this letter.
I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you.
God said
for me to give you
the answer
to one of the questions you asked Him
"Where was He
When I needed him ?"
"God said
He was in the same place with me,
as when
His son Jesus,
was on the cross.
He was right there,< /EM>
as He Always Is
With All His Children." Oh, by the way, Mom ,
no one else can see what I've written ...except you.
To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.
Isn't that cool ?
I have to give God
His pen back now.
He needs it to write some
more names in
The Book of Life.
Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper.
I'm sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore.
The cancer is all gone.
I'm glad because I couldn't
stand that pain anymore
...and God
couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either.
That's when He sent
The Angel of Mercy
to come get me.
The Angel said,
I was a Special Delivery !
How about that ?
Signed With Love from God, Jesus & Me.
Take 60 seconds and re-post this, within the hour, you will have caused a multitude of believers
to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and feel the Holy Spirit...
Work in your life
for doing what you know .
God loves .
"When you're down to nothing,
God is up to Something."
thinking about me.
This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here
and showed me around some, but it will take a long time
to see everything.
The angels are so cool.
I love to watch them fly.
And, you know what?
Jesus doesn't look
like any of his pictures.
Yet, when I saw Him,
I knew it was Him.
Jesus himself took me to see GOD !
And guess what, Mom ?
I got to sit on God's knee
and talk to Him,
like I was
somebody important.
That's when I told Him that
I wanted
to write you a letter,
to tell you good bye
and everything.
But I already knew that wasn't allowed.
Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen
to write you this letter.
I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you.
God said
for me to give you
the answer
to one of the questions you asked Him
"Where was He
When I needed him ?"
"God said
He was in the same place with me,
as when
His son Jesus,
was on the cross.
He was right there,< /EM>
as He Always Is
With All His Children." Oh, by the way, Mom ,
no one else can see what I've written ...except you.
To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.
Isn't that cool ?
I have to give God
His pen back now.
He needs it to write some
more names in
The Book of Life.
Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper.
I'm sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore.
The cancer is all gone.
I'm glad because I couldn't
stand that pain anymore
...and God
couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either.
That's when He sent
The Angel of Mercy
to come get me.
The Angel said,
I was a Special Delivery !
How about that ?
Signed With Love from God, Jesus & Me.
Take 60 seconds and re-post this, within the hour, you will have caused a multitude of believers
to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and feel the Holy Spirit...
Work in your life
for doing what you know .
God loves .
"When you're down to nothing,
God is up to Something."
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