Grace

Wonderful time of the year. Finally got an assistant to look after the house, be with the kids while I’m out and away.  Drafting a new course for my personal life now..struggling with  yet enjoying this new phase. Yay! I can be what I want to be. A mom, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a blogger.  I’m still in the middle of putting things in order, but Praise God, He has seen me through all of these.

Something came up between Allan and me lately that I have resolved to just put them at the back seat.  It’s just too much for me to be managing the house, tending the kids and looking after everything with my partner away.  And when his demands are way too high for me to cover, I feel like exploding.

So what have I been doing lately? Reunions with friends, parties..school meetings.

Just this afternoon I came from my kids school. I figured that if I spend time with them on their vacant time, while waiting for the school bus, that is, they can make use of that time doing assignments or extra readings. So this afternoon I dropped by their school before proceeding to Bajada for the Herbalife HOM. My eldest was disappointed and was in tears for he was not able to play basketball anymore. I was careful his emotions would not get the better of me. Will find good antics how to go about it, sometime.

My sister and her family came in for a visit.  It was truly awesome to be with the kids. I realized I just missed having little kids. I was in the middle of singing lullabies to my niece and nephew when my older son said, ” Mama how come we do not have a sister?”

It’s been a busy month, that May..and still a busy June for me.  However, though I have managed to get used to the hu-hums of motherhood in yet another challenging chapterof family life , it’s just wonderful to note the many FIRSTS that I have experienced.  For today..

*My first day to the gym today with my lady friend Rita.  Center point is okay except that Holiday offers better amenities.  So tomorrow, I will have my lower body exercise in Holiday.  Hopefully Rita can be there and Nancy, too.

* School is now official for my two graders.  Today is their first time to wear their Cub Scout Uniform.  Boy how excited Oshie was this morning.

* My first time not to hear from hubby since Father’s Day. Oh well.

* SM Super Malls is cool but their food court is cooler.  What with free wifi, what more can I ask for? It’s my first time to be able to sit here with my netbook, surf and blog.

*My first to  be dead serious about getting trim and slim since I moved out of Luzon.  I’m into Shake /meal replacement program and I know this will do wonders to my already flabby body.

Kids are kids, no matter how you handle them, once in a while they exhibit hyper activity. They do not get tired and are just full of energy. But when they are inactive and pale looking, something must be wrong.  As I heard my youngest son say, “This is not good..I don’t feel good.”

Hearing this from him time and again  prompted me to finally take my son to a clinic for  a check up on his CBC or Complete Blood Count.  Test results  revealed a significant drop of platelets.  His pedia gave an order for immediate admission for hydration and for monitoring of his CBC. His sudden onset of fever four days back was caused by  Aedis aegypti.

Dengue  is life threatening and continues to be the leading cause of serious illness and even death especially among children.

• Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness, and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever.
• Global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades.
• About two fifths of the world’s population are now at risk.
• Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
• Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian countries.
• There is no specific treatment for dengue, but appropriate medical care frequently saves the lives of patients with the more serious dengue haemorrhagic fever.
• The only way to prevent dengue virus transmission is to combat the disease-carrying mosquitoes.

DOH report stated that 14,000 case of Dengue from January to April this year. That’s quite a leap over the 9,000 case of same period last year.  News about this illness can be read almost daily in the papers but it didn’t bother me much until now.  When I got back to our own house, instantly I searched for possible breeding place of the mosquitoes from which my son could have gotten the virus.  At least three old tires lay on the ground at a vacant lot where tall grasses populate.  I have to hire somebody to take those used tires to the junk shop and perhaps clean the entire surrounding f or me.

My son, now recuperating, was advised not to engage in some strenuous activities for at least two weeks since his confinement and to watch out for Bradycardia or slow heart rate. Bouts of exhaustion lasts for days to months to a person who just had the disease.

Now shouldn’t we all be thankful our kids are active and playing rather than sitting idly or worse lying on a bed feverish?

Tires are perfect breeding place for mosquitoes.

Living the life you want, going back to the basics. These were my reasons for moving back.
Eleven years ago, I met a man. We dated for a year and got married before year 1999 ended. Then my whole world changed. I was taken away from my parents and siblings who became my shelter and shield for twenty five years and joined my man in his lovely nest I was ready to call my own. A couple of months into our marriage I find myself again moving, this time away from the comfort of my hometown and landed in the city from which I knew no one and so I had just me and my husband to depend on.
Ten years has moved so fast. Got myself a job, gave birth to my sons, developed new friends, fell in love with Manila and called it home.
Time moved fast and my family is back to Davao. I may not be able to put all in words my experiences but the memories will be engraved forever in my heart.
I couldn’t be more happier. I’m closer to my parents who of course have aged over that period of separation, more bonding time with my brothers who also have their own family now. It’s a pity that my sisters no longer live in the city so we get to reunite only when they’re on vacations. I can now visit my in laws without spending much on plane fares. These are the basics. This is family.
This is the life I want with my children, growing up in a rather laid back life, enjoying great outdoor adventure in the beaches, parks. Being able to enjoy food fresh from the market. Spending childhood with cousins, laughing hard and growing up together. Why have bread when you can have a salmon?

Maayong buntag Davao. It feels good to be back here. Finally and “unfinally”..we have yet to move to our own house which a few kilometers from my folk’s house.
Thanks to all those who helped me pack ( my friends in Cavite) and to my brothers who unloaded the things from the pier. Above all, thank you to all who prayed for our easy transition, for the financial, moral and every support I could get.

Just got back from a fitness routine with a couple of friends. The heat is on again..literally. I wonder what the temp is today.
Two weeks more and we are finally off to Davao. The personal effects were already on their way to Davao, via Abotiz. So many things in my head today.
First, I have to do some errands at BDO for my sister.
Second, got to check some tiles and maybe visit Bacao as a friend told me, its where good tiles can be bought.
Third, have to talk to the contractor for the house improvement. I have to make sure it’s ready for occupancy of the tenant once I leave for Davao comes April 3.
Fourth, will look at the budget for the repair, and another budget for the cargo shipment which I sent collect and still pooling some resources.Whew!
These and more are my stresses lately. Whatta life!

How popular are you among your peers?

When we were in high school, gaining popularity was more important than having to do the assignment in Algebra. I didn’t really consider myself popularback then for to me, being one meant able to join in the talent and beauty search staged by the school and I never really tried joining one. For the simple reason that although I was  quite a smart and friendly person, someone in the class was wearing the “Most Beautiful Face”.

I may be popular, too because of the various contests I and my best friend have joined over our four year academic period but not in terms of being known as fashionista or for being beautiful and always in style.

By the time I went to college and graduated, my fashion sense has improved a bit.  But not until I became a mother that I started to become conscious of how I dress up. Reading about fashion whenever and wherever has become a habit.  I haven’t really evolved into one fashionista but   this site called Stylecaster that feature trendy styles and popular look for ladies like me who want to look their best and be their best.

Stylecaster’s  fashion industry news is quite informative making one updated with who’s wearing what in Hollywood.  “To age gracefully” has become a common phrase especially among us thirty-something.  And with the tips we get and some hot stuff and fashion trends from the site, life being a mom has gotten an interesting twist.

Styling one’s  hair can be a letdown especially if you’ re a busy mom or working lass or worse, when you’ve got coarse curly hair that you don’t know what to do with and when it’s your son’s graduation and you have to look your best.

My hair that’s always been a high-maintenance as it is naturally wavy, has been an awful mess lately.

What to do when going to a stylist for that much-needed hair rebonding would cost me the whole year of my son’s school bus fee.  So often, like during Oshie’s graduation, I opted for a simple pony tail but looking at the picture, I wish I had gotten

No mom could be prouder.

myself a good reference for hairstyles to create a pony tail that has volumes at the crown and  sleek sides.  This way I could have reinvented a new me or opted for  Sandra Bullock-look  in her vintage hairstyle during the Oscars.  Styling of course has to take into accounts the occasion to which one will attend, different face shapes (in my case, a round shape)  or hair texture.

One site that answers my quest for tips on beauty and fashion is the totalbeauty.com. It has practical yet trendy tips on keeping a hair and creatingstyles that enhances the beauty in me .

Another thing that I consider experimenting is haircolors. I wonder though what color suits me that is rather safe.  It’s something I have been meaning to try as I never had my hair colored before. I can’t imagine myself sporting a blonde hair, though.  That will surely be an off-match to my kayumanggi color.

Sporting a curly hair is in especially this summer so maybe I can do away with hair straighteners and stash away that cash for a trendy beach attire instead.

Thirty days more and off we go to Davao. Time just flies so quickly. I’m ready with my to do list but not that ready with the major move at hand. What to do when I only have myself towork on the tasks . It’s impossible for hubby to come home at this time when he is renewing his contract overseas.
Actually he is prodding and constantly reminding me to start packing and tackling tasks imperative to the moving out.
To date, I have “unshelved” some of our books and boxed them. Most of the kitchen wares,glass ones and plastics have been safely boxed too. I have yet to dismantle cabinets and racks, our Matrimonial and two-decker beds.
What could be more stressful than being out here on my own,planning,implementing. Lord, you are my rock.

What a lovely day to start one’s Saturday with this beautiful creatively- written piece about being a wife, a mother and a friend.
This is one of the many mornings I spend chatting with hubby over Skype, sans the choppy reception from his end and after a rather anxiety-filled conversations a while ago, it’s a good way to reflect on the message of the Beatitudes of a Wife.

“Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labor of love; for her willing hands and happy heart translate duty into privilege, and her labor becomes a service to God and all mankind.

Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.

Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts; for her understanding is a balm to humanity.

Blessed is she who scours and scrubs; for well she knows that cleanliness is one expression of godliness.

Blessed is she whom children love; for the love of a child is more to be valued than fortune or fame.

Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.

Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.

Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.

Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the Christian home; for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.”