Supplemental Nursing System

Sometimes I feel that we make one step forward and two steps back. Sigh. After being so excited that Cerise finally gained weight last week, I feel we're back to square one. The medicine that the pedia-cardio gave to relieve the pressure from the lungs is a diuretic. Meaning, Cerise will be urinating more often and consequently may lose weight. Since she is peeing more often, this is suppose to make her want to feed more also. But as it is, she takes the same amount of milk and maybe even less now. Sigh again.

I bought her these Breast Flow bottles that's suppose to mimic the breast. It has two nipples that regulates the flow of the milk. Only when baby sucks can the milk come out. At first, she readily took to it and was taking enough milk in a day. I think she gained weight already when she started taking this bottle. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, she just rejected it. No warning, no symptoms. Just no bottle. I tried the Evenflo bottles. I tried Avent. I even went back to the Pigeon bottles that she used to drink from with breastmilk. Still no progress.

I was able to feed her with a sippy spout that Alyssa used to take when she was an older baby. The spout is closed and liquid will only flow when sucked. The beauty of this is that the baby is able to regulate her milk intake. Cerise took to that and can drink in it but only in small amounts. She refuses to drink more than half an ounce in that cup. Frustrating, really!

I'd like to monitor the quantity of her milk intake so I can see how much she's drinking in a day. For her age, infants usually take in 3-4 ounces in a 4-5 hour period. That's about 20-24 ounces a day. I checked the Dr. Sears book and it says that 2-2 1/2 ounces per pound is a better way of quantifying a baby's milk intake. Since Cerise is 3.5kg, she should be taking 15 to 20 ounces a day. As it is, she barely reaches 10 ounces although we can't really quantify the breastmilk she gets from direct breastfeeding.

Then I thought of researching about the Supplemental Nursing System of Medela. I wasn't sure if this would help but I was thinking since Cerise preferred feeding directly from me, this would enable her to get more milk without jeopardizing also my breastmilk production. Good friend, Jen Tan of Next9 slings was able to hook me up with Medela Moms and I was finally able to get this:

This works by attaching a tube (connected to supplemented milk) right beside your nipple to allow baby to suck on the breast while getting milk. This is usually used by adopting mothers who wish to breastfeed. It is a good way to relactate and to feed preemies or slow weight gaining babies. I thought this would be perfect for Cerise! Good thing Medela Moms has this in stock!

I tried using it tonight. Not easy! It takes practice for you to shoot the tube into the baby's mouth. Cerise was getting frustrated at first. But we were able to manage and she was able to take in one ounce of milk. I tried using the medium tube at first but will try the bigger tube tomorrow for faster milk intake. I hope that this would enable Cerise to take in more milk so she'll gain already.

We'll be seeing a pedia-endocrinologist when we go to Manila. Cerise's pedia here in CDO recommends it. My friend, Dr. Zeka Tatad-To also suggested the same thing and mentioned that most failure to thrive babies is an endocrinological problem. I hope that we finally find out why Cerise is not gaining weight so we can address it right away.

However, amidst all the trials she is facing, Cerise remains to be an alert and active baby. She loves looking at her play gym friends and talks to anyone who would listen to her, usually mommy or her sisters. :-) I hope that she'll be ok soon for her sake and for my sanity.

Small Steps

Cerise had her 2D Echo yesterday. The holes in her heart (PDA, 2 VSD's and 1 PFO) are still there but have reduced in size already. Praise God! I also weighed her in the pedia's office and she has gained another 100 grams. I am so relieved! 100 grams in 2 days! Things are looking brighter for her and I am so happy! I know that things will be better soon.

The pedia-cardio said that the condition of her heart is not bad enough to be the reason for her failure to thrive. Honestly, I think it is all a combination of problems in her health that caused it. Her heart, anemia and the sepsis. She was given an additional medicine to help relieve the pressure from her lungs which consequently can help her gain more. Slowly, these problems are being addressed and I think Cerise is on her way to recovery. :-)

Hopeful

It has been quite a hectic week and a roller coaster of emotions for us. Cerise went to see her pediatrician again last week to assess her growth and if she has improved with the steps that we have undertaken. It was disheartening to find out that again she did not gain weight. Her weight two weeks ago was the same as last week! How can that be? It was so frustrating. I could feel the pain in my heart boring a deep hole. I've sacrificed and worked hard in helping her gain and yet it was all in vain.

Her doctor suggested to supplement my breastmilk with formula. If he asked me that a month or a week ago, I might have said no and let me work on her weight gain through breastmilk. But right then and there I felt that I needed to give her formula too. I wanted her to gain weight so badly already before it's too late, before I regret it, before something happens that might be detrimental to her health.

He also recommended that Cerise be checked by a pedia-gastroenterologist when we go to Manila. And since we'd be going to Manila on the 18th pa, Mier and I decided that Cerise and I should fly off for a few days to have Cerise checked immediately. We were able to get in touch with a pedia-gastro from St. Luke's Hospital and bought tickets right away.

Thank God the pedia-gastro cleared Cerise from liver and abdominal problems. She said that she believes that this isn't a metabolic problem and that Cerise expends too much energy breastfeeding. She suggested that I quantify her milk intake by pumping milk and giving it to her through a bottle. Cerise should be taking 8oz of milk aside from breastfeeding.

Honestly, I don't think I can pump 8oz of milk everyday. Although I do have stored milk at home, this won't be enough and it would be a struggle for me to reach that goal. Pumping takes time. As it is, I am taking too much time with Cerise already. I need to be able to bond with the other girls too. Thus, with a heavy heart, I've decided to continue to mix feeding. My goal is for Cerise to gain weight as soon as possible and if formula is the key for that then it is so. I tried my best and did what I could.

I went to have Cerise checked again yesterday, this time by a pedia-cardiologist. It was great to find out that Cerise finally gained! 100 grams. Not much but something. I am hopeful that things will get better soon. We are scheduled for a 2D Echo tomorrow and I pray that I will hear good news.

I forgot to mention, on our way home from Manila, Cerise was crying in the plane. She refused to feed either from the breast or the bottle and I was feeling really down. But when I looked out of the window, there was a rainbow among the clouds. Not a full one, just half a rainbow and I wasn't sure if it was visible only to me. But I felt God's presence and his assurance that all will be well. I am hopeful.

Babywearing Festival

Yoga Baby Bliss in Facebook is having a Babywearing Festival. They have very exciting prizes to be won by the entries with the most likes. I sent in a photo not to win but to support this event.

I am proud to say that I have been a babywearer since 2001 when my oldest daughter, Nadine, was born. At that time, babywearing wasn't the norm yet. In fact, I've never even heard of the term "babywearing". All I know is that Nadine hated her stroller and loved being in our arms all the time. I used a Baby Bjorn carrier to wear her.

My first sling was from my friend, Buding Aquino-Dee, who lent me her Kindersling from Canada. At that time, I would see slings in US magazines and thought that this would be a good way of bonding with my baby Raya while caring for my toddler Nadine. It was an answered prayer because I was able to do just that.

So when I gave birth to my 3rd girl Alyssa, I knew right away that I would be babywearing her too. Same with my baby now, Cerise. :-)

I love babywearing because it makes my babies calm, content and secure. I wear my babies anywhere and everywhere. Plus, it makes breastfeeding a breeze! I currently have 6 slings, 2 pouches and 1 SAYA. Hahaha! Like I said, I don't need to win this contest. I just want to show how much babywearing means to me!

The photo I submitted was taken in 2007 during my sister, Marla's wedding. Alyssa, was only a month old then. I had a sling made to match my breastfeeding dress and that of Nadine and Raya's dresses who were both flower girls. My 4th daughter, Cerise, who is now 2 months old, loves the slings just like her sisters before her. :-)

The Golden Sling during my sister's wedding.

Wearing 3-month old Alyssa in Enchanted Kingdom using a Next9 sling.

My first sling, the Kindersling, with my 2nd daughter, Raya, in it.This was in 2003.


Alyssa in a Blissfulbabes pouch from Buding Aquino-Dee

My husband, Mier, with Alyssa.

My 2-month old baby Cerise in the pouch.

Proud of my Schoolgirls

We had the quarterly parent-teacher conference last week and all three girls brought home highly satisfactory grades. I am so proud of them because I know that they had a lot of adjustments to do last quarter --- I gave birth to Cerise and was busy caring for a newborn, then Cerise got sick and was hospitalized for a week. But despite all these obstacles, they were able to do well in school with some grade subjects even going up.

Their teachers are all praises for them. Yes, they see that the girls were struggling with the changes at home but obviously, they were able to surpass those. Both Nadine and Raya have subjects whose grades went up dramatically. Some grades went down but not very low. Both are second honors and have very good conduct grades.

I was brimming with pride when Raya's teacher commented how Nadine would watch over her sisters in school. Nadine would go to Raya's classroom to check on her and see if she packed her lunchbox properly or if her things are all in order. She has been a very good "ate" to them and I am so proud of her. :-)

Alyssa could have been accelerated to the next level for the 3rd quarter but her teacher and I agreed that it might be too much of an adjustment for her. She can do it academically but emotionally she might have difficulty since there are also adjustments at home. I don't mind leaving her in the Toddler level and wait for her to be ready for Nursery next year. I know she will ace the Nursery level as well.

I think I owe all these also to our yaya Anie who has been great in filling up my shoes in times when I cannot do the things I usually do for my girls. She is really a gem and I thank God for giving her to us.

God's Way

Have you ever tried to collect urine from a baby girl? It is not an easy task. You will have to position the plastic collector in just the right place so that the urine will not spill. Since Cerise needed a urinalysis I was bent on collecting this by hook or by crook.

It took awhile for her to pee. Right before lunchtime, there was a little in the plastic. Just in time! Mier was about to go downtown for a dental appointment. I instructed the driver to send the sample to the hospital's Lab 2. But an hour after, the driver texted that the lab technician refused to accept the sample because it wasn't enough. How disappointing!

The 2nd time we collected by mid afternoon, the urine was even less than the first collection. Much was spilled in the diaper. I didn't even try to submit it. By the 3rd try, I carefully positioned the plastic making sure that it covered most of her labia. At 530pm we were able to get a good amount of sample. Hooray! Since the driver left already for the day, I instructed my Yaya Anie to take a cab down to the hospital. The urine needed to be in the lab in less than an hour or it will stale.

She rushed down in vain. Again the technician said it wasn't enough. They needed 20ml to do a urinalysis, according to her. WHAAT??? Did they expect a 2 month old baby to excrete 20ml? What stupidity! I texted our pediatrician but she didn't reply at that time. I told Anie to just come up. The next day I called up my pedia and told her the situation. "That's crazy!" she said. She told me she will ring up the lab to check it out. I also told the neonatologist and he looked at me incredulously and said that if they are able to get a urinalysis from a premature baby, why not a 2 month old.

I put the urine collector for the 4th time at around 3pm the next day (We went to see the neonatologist that morning) and was able to collect a sample by 430pm. I was hellbent in bringing the sample down myself but since the driver wasn't back from an errand, I was willing to drive downtown myself with all the kids and Anie holding Cerise. But as we exited the subdivision gate, Cerise started wailing. I knew I wouldn't be able to make the drive hearing her cry at the backseat the whole time.

I suddenly just thought of calling up my friend, Yen, who lived in the same subdivision. Her husband was a medical representative and had flexible time although I doubted that he would be home at that time. Lo and behold, he was home! And he was about to leave to go downtown! I asked if Anie could hitch a ride to the hospital and he was more than willing to give her a lift.

Right before he arrived to pick Anie up, I made a spur of the moment decision to go to the lab myself with Cerise in tow. I could just take a cab on my way up afterward. In the car, Dan and I talked and he said that he usually doesn't go home at that time. But Yen was concerned that their water dispenser was leaking so he had to go home even if he wasn't done with his work. I called just in time because he was about to leave for downtown. It was a blessing from God!

When we got to the hospital, only then did I realize that one of the orders of the neonatologist was a blood sugar test for Cerise. It was a good thing that I decided to bring the urine sample myself so I could have Cerise's test done too!

Both the urinalysis and the the blood sugar test came out negative. But I am amazed how everything just came into place. Dan was right there at the right time and we were able to go down to have all the tests done. I think this was God's way of saying that all will be well, that He is in control, that He will take care of us, especially of Cerise. :-)

Anemic

I brought Cerise to see a neonatologist yesterday. Mier and I were so bothered by her condition and we just wanted peace of mind. The visit was very enlightening as he explained to me the basis for Cerise's problem and the steps we are taking to address that.

The probable reason for her failure to thrive is that she is anemic. The neonatologist explained to me that newborn babies cannot produce their own red blood cells until the 3rd or 4th months. That is why they store red blood cells from the mother's last trimester into their system until they are able to produce their own. It is natural for the red blood cells to go down. But in Cerise's case, she also had sepsis (a blood infection) when she was a week old and that deterred her bone marrow to work on the red blood cells all the more. Hence, the anemia.

Right now, she is taking iron supplements 3x a day and a medicine that will help her absorb the proteins and nutrients into her system. Her urinalysis is normal and so is her blood sugar. We will go back to see the neonatologist after 10 days to see if she has improved. He was humble enough to say that they are not 100% sure that it is the anemia that caused the failure to thrive but since that is what is evident now, that is what they will treat. And hopefully it is nothing more serious.

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers. It breaks my heart to see Cerise so fragile. But she is such a happy baby --- always smiling and cooing and never really fussing except when she's hungry or sleepy. She is a fighter and we will all fight alongside her with God's grace. I pray that this episode in our lives will soon pass.

Failure to Thrive

Failure to Thrive. This was the medical description the pediatrician used to describe Cerise today. We went for her 2 month checkup and was surprised that she didn't gain weight. In fact, she lost 0.100 grams from last month.

I sort of knew that she didn't gain a considerable amount of weight from last month. She seemed thinner to me, her bones more pronounced. When I look at her pictures when she was still a newborn, she was definitely meatier. But I was hoping that I was wrong. And that my efforts the past week would be enough to help her gain a little. I have been pumping my breastmilk and feeding her both by bottle and directly. I know it helped a little because I feel that she is heavier now when we carry her. But I have to admit that I was very disappointed (and perhaps hurt) with her weight loss.

Her pedia ordered a CBC. Being in that room with the lab technician extracting blood from her brought back memories of how we were more than a month ago when Cerise was diagnosed with sepsis. I tried to fight back the tears and prayed that results of the CBC would not be bad.

It turns out that Cerise is anemic. Her red blood cells are low and this may be a reason for her failure to thrive. Her pedia says it still might be a result of the sepsis. Her platelet count is very high which indicates that the antibiotics given to her are still in effect in her body. Iron and Vitamin C (which helps in the absorbption of iron) were prescribed as well as a medicine that would help her absorb protein. Hopefully this will help her. I intend to go back in 2 weeks,  instead of next month, for a reevaluation. I would rather know if it works or not so steps can be made if it doesn't.

A urinalysis was also ordered but I still have to collect the urine for evaluation. I will do that tomorrow. The good news from the pedia visit was that her heart murmur has lessened. It is still there but not as much as before. Cerise will have her 2D echo and pedia-cardio visit next month.

When we got home this afternoon, all the disappointment and hurt came out and I had to cry it out. Weeks before the doctor's visit I felt insecure about my breastmilk. I knew that I had milk because I fed Raya and Alyssa for more than a year. But still, seeing Cerise made me feel that it might be me. It didn't help that people would ask if I had enough milk. Or comments would be made that my milk is not nutritious enough for her. That was why I started pumping and feeding Cerise extra ounces through the bottle. It isn't easy to pump, wash and sterilize but I made the efforts all for her. But still it wasn't enough, it was all in vain.

The pedia assured me that it wasn't me. That the problem was Cerise's ability to absorb the nutrients. But I couldn't help but feel bad. I hope that all will be well soon. I pray to God and to Mama Mary that things will get better soon.

Cerise at 2 months

Now Raya too!

Cerise is turning two months on Sunday and I think it is only now that the other girls are realizing that Mommy is certainly preoccupied with the pooping, sucking and wailing little being.

Since Alyssa is the one who mostly demands of my attention, I've come up with a plan of bathing together. I get to have my much-awaited bath while bonding with her (and bathing her too since she refused to be bathed by our yaya now).

So the other day, while Alyssa and I were in the shower, Raya knocked wanting to join us. I don't really have a problem with this except that our bathroom is a really small one. It would be impossible to have any cleaning done when there's a crowd inside. I told Raya that we can bathe together the next day.

However, the next day we all forgot about it. Raya took a bath as soon as she got home from school and she remembered what we were suppose to do only when she saw me and Alyssa drying up together. What I didn't expect was her reaction --- she burst into tears. I realized there and then that she wanted to spend time with me too. And as usual, it made me feel bad.

So now, inasmuch as I would want to soak in the waters on this warm day, I will wait until Raya gets home from school today so we can do it together. Such is the life of a mom of four. But I will not trade it with anyone. :-)

On Sibling Jealousy

Alyssa woke up at 3am crying inconsolably. "Mommy, I need you!" she wailed. Although I was lying down beside her, I was also breastfeeding Cerise and couldn't give her my full attention. If I stopped breastfeeding her, Cerise in turn would start crying. It made me feel bad that I had to choose between the two younger ones and since Alyssa is older and can be reasoned more, I continued breastfeeding Cerise while trying to talk to Alyssa.

I told Alyssa that she has to understand that Cerise needs me more because she is still a baby. "I don't understand!" Alyssa continued to wail.

Fortunately, Mier, who was sleeping with Nadine and Raya in the other room, heard our commotion and came to the room. Alyssa refused to be comforted by Mier and wanted only me. I told Mier to get Cerise and burp her. Good thing, Cerise did not fuss, as she usually does, when Mier picked her up. I was then able to concentrate on Alyssa.

I gathered Alyssa into my arms and looked into her eyes. I told her that when she was a baby, she was like Cerise who needed me to feed her and carry her and comfort her. I explained to her that babies, like Cerise, cannot talk or walk or eat ice cream or play in the park --- things that she, as a big girl, can do already. That is why Cerise needs me more now. I told her that I needed her too, to help me take care of Cerise. Surprisingly, Alyssa took in my explanations well and seemed content with what I said.

Alyssa and Cerise

It was a dejavu for me. Six years ago, I had the same experience when out of the blue, two-year old Nadine blurted out, "I don't like Baby Raya!" I talked to Nadine about her feelings not negating it because I believed she is entitled to feel the way she did. I think it was really an adjustment phase for her at that time. Today Nadine and Raya are very close. They also fight and have misunderstandings which is, I believe normal for siblings. But I know deep down inside, they love and care for each other.

Any mother would like to see her children get along well. I cringed at those families whose children are always fighting because of jealousy and hatred. I have constantly reminded my girls that they take care of each other and love each other because they are sisters. But I am also aware of their differences in characters and personalities. I know that somehow, it can't be helped that they will have clashes in beliefs and wants. But I do pray and hope that these would help them grow in understanding each other rather than pulling them apart.

Today, Alyssa woke up in a good mood. She hugged and kissed me and did not make a fuss getting ready for school. I hope that what we talked about during the early morning would sink in.

Manila Trip Oct 30 - Nov 4, 2010

We went to Manila/Cavite for Daddy Ed's 68th birthday. Since his birthday is on Oct 31, Halloween, we had our own costume party in Cavite. The kids enjoyed dressing up.

We were also able to visit Lola Cely in White Plains and see the rest of the Basa clan.

It was a busy and hectic but enjoyable trip. :-)

Amazing

Alyssa has always been a demonstrative child. She just turned 3 years old but she has always been articulate and would readily say "I love you!" out of the blue.

I was giving her a bath today when she hugged me and said, "Mom, you are amazing!" Times like this affirm that my choice to be a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) is the right one for me. :-)

My friend, Eliza, wrote on her blog, The Painter's Wife, about her thoughts on being an SAHM. I left this comment on her post:

"Someone once told me (when I decided to quit my job to be a SAHM to my first born) that I should have continued working and use my salary to pay for a good yaya. Huh? That didn’t make sense to me. Why should I pay someone to comfort my baby when she needed ME? For awhile, my greatest fear was that my baby would look for the yaya instead of me. Hehehe! Now, with 2 gradeschoolers, 1 toddler and a month old baby, I only have ONE really reliable yaya to help me. I’m still as hands on as ever and I don’t regret it. Sure, there are times when I need a break and feel crazy for trying to do everything. But when I hear my 9 year old tell me about her stories of the day, or my 7 year old laugh at a joke she heard, or my 3 year old tell me that she loves me or my 1 month old look at me as if I’m the only person in the world, then I know that it is all worth the insanity. "

Yes, they are worth the insanity.

Children's Month Culminating Activity

The girls celebrated the culminating of Children's Month today. They had to dress up in costumes of different countries. Nadine was French, Raya was Dutch and Alyssa was Chinese. They missed this event last year as we left for Manila as soon as exams were done so they were pretty much excited this morning for this. :-)...

Couldn't resist taking pictures of Cerise too this morning. She's 6 weeks old already. :-)

Hospitalized for a Week

None of my older girls were ever hospitalized other than their births. I guess because I read a lot, I'm not the type to panic right away when they get sick. I've also always relied on my gut instinct and call the doctor only when I feel it's needed already.

So when I noticed that Cerise's umbilical cord stump was a little reddish around it at 5 days old, I felt something was amiss and immediately called her pediatrician about it. The doctor asked me if there's a foul smell emanating from it and since there was none, she said to just observe first and continue cleaning it with alcohol.

The next day, after her afternoon nap, I noticed that Cerise was a little warm to the touch. A temperature check showed a 37.9 fever. I texted her pedia again and she said to sponge bath and give medicine once it reaches higher than 38 degrees. I was also to bring her in for check up the following day.

Cerise didn't have fever anymore the next day but we still proceeded to bring her to see the doctor. A CBC check showed that she had a high WBC count and her platelet count was below 200 (195 exactly but her pedia preferred higher than 200). Prognosis was Sepsis, a blood infection, and she needed antibiotics. Since she was still a newborn (she was only 7 days old at that time), they needed to administer the medicines via heplock. She also needed to be hospitalized for the duration of the antibiotics which is a week. There was nothing we could do but proceed to be admitted. The doc also said that she wanted a blood culture done.

My heart broke to see her squirming and screaming in the ER room while her heplock was being placed. Mier saw me crying already and told me to step out while he handled her during the blood extraction for the blood culture. Subsequently, her heplock would dislodge three times during the week's duration and each time they would put it back was a stab to my heart. Finally, the doc suggested an IV drip instead for the medications and this was successful until the end of our stay.

On the second day of our stay, the pedia noticed a heart murmur on her chest. She referred a pedia cardio to come see Cerise and the cardio confirmed the murmur and asked for an X-ray and 2D Echo. The tests showed two 2mm VSDs and a valve that did not close (PDA, i think). This is usually symptomless at birth and usually manifests a few weeks after birth.The doc says the sizes are very small and that she is confident they will close in 3 months time. She didn't give any medications and said that we will just reassess after 3 months.

Only two weeks old and my little baby has gone through so much already. She was a real trooper all throughout the experience and I have a feeling she will turn out to be the toughest among my girls.

We are home now and enjoying our little angel. She has been breastfeeding well and loves  being cuddled in a sling. We pray that things go on smoothly from here and that she grows to be a strong and confident person.

Little Big Sister

Alyssa likes to play her role as big sister very seriously. Here she reads to Cerise and makes up stories. It makes my heart melt to hear her say,"I love you, Baby Cerise!"

Cecilia Amarise "Cerise" Montalvan Castrillo

born: 14 September 2010
7lbs 10oz
52cm

Cerise

Finding Balance

Every parent would like to form a well-rounded child, exposed in the different areas of culture, arts and possibly sports. Mier and I have always tried to expose our girls to different aspects of life whether here in Cagayan de Oro or when we go to Manila for vacations. We’re lucky that the girls’ school has various offerings of extra-curricular activities for the wholistic development of the children.

Since summer, both Nadine and Raya have expressed interest in learning a musical instrument. But since they were involved in their golf sessions and enrichment activities (not to mention, I was still feeling bouts of morning sickness), they didn’t have a chance to get into it. Fortunately, their school is now offering music lessons to the students. Nadine has chosen to continue her piano lessons and Raya has decided to learn how to play the flute.

Likewise the girls have decided to continue their swimming lessons even if it is only once a week. They used to swim three times a week two years ago when Nadine was in Grade One and at that time still half day in school except Fridays. That gave them time to study when they get back from school and still make it to their 330pm swimming lessons. They took a break from swimming last year when Nadine started whole day classes.

This year, although both girls are already whole day (the school has changed the schedule and Raya is also whole day now despite being in Grade One), we’ve decided to allow them to start swimming again even if it’s just once a week. Swimming will give them the needed exercise for their bodies. Maybe by next month, they can start swimming twice a week, including Wednesdays, since they hardly have tests and activities the next day.

I’ve explained to both girls that the key to handling all these activities is to find balance in it all. Studies should always be their priority and I’m happy to say that they’ve both agreed to this and have been diligently studying their lessons everyday without complaints.

Twice a week, after school, they go to their music lessons at the top floor of their school building and once a week they continue swimming lessons at the local clubhouse. In between those extra curricular activities, they are busy with studying for tests and spelling lists, memorizing poems and putting actions in their storytelling presentations.

Yes, they have been pretty busy with school and other activities that they have actually stopped watching TV during weekdays. (Yehey!) I remember when my sisters and I were school girls so long ago, TV was not allowed during school days. With my kids, I’ve decided to compromise since there are a lot of educational shows anyway that’s shown. National Geographic, Discovery and Animal Planet are favorite channels. But lately, they don’t mind watching only on weekends, which is what I prefer anyway.

This week is exam week and we’ve been gearing up and preparing for three days of diagnostic tests. Since last week, I’ve been busy creating reviewers for the different subjects they’ll be having. Good thing I was able to team up with some of the mothers in the school so we can each create different reviewers for certain subjects and then just exchange them. I used to make these tests for each subject and it can be quite tiring, especially now since both girls are in grade school. At least now, I can share the burden with other mothers.

   It has been pretty busy around our house since school started but I don’t mind, really. I expect it to be busier when I give birth in 2-3 weeks from now. Life for us will definitely change again with a new baby in the house. But it is a good change. The key here is finding balance in everything that we do.

Marko Alejandro M. Siojo

I spent time with Mackie and Mabel and their 5-day old Marko today. Love the smell of a newborn. :-)

There's a BOY in the house!

Three days ago my sister, Mabel, gave birth to her and her husband, Mackie's, first born, Marko Alejandro. Marko is the first boy grandchild of my parents (They have four granddaughters between my other sister, Marla, and me and the babies we're both carrying are girls too!), the first grandchild (who happens to be a boy) on the side of Mackie, and the first great grandson of my maternal grandmother (She has 8 great grandchildren who are all girls!)

We are thrilled to have a baby boy in the family! :-) Although I'm sure it will take time to get used to it. While still in the hospital, he filled the room with his loud and lusty cry demanding his milk from his mommy. Hehehe! Such a cutie!

Alyssa in her Igorot Costume

As part of their Buwan ng Wika celebration, the preschool students are asked to dress up in Filipino costumes every Friday. Here is Alyssa in her Igorot costume. This was originally Raya's costume but it fits Alyssa well! She was so excited to wear it this morning....

August is World Breastfeeding Month!

Alyssa breastfed until she was 1 year and 10 months. She would breastfeed standing up while I am seated working at the computer. :-)

Raya breastfed for 1 year and 6 months and Nadine for 1 1/2 months only. Sadly, I have no pictures of me breastfeeding them. I imagine myself breastfeeding the coming baby for a long time considering that she'll be the last. :-) I will definitely be taking pictures of me breastfeeding her.

Teacher Mommy

If there’s one thing I’m proud of about being a mother is making that decision to be purely hands-on with my kids. And it’s not just in taking care of them physically but also emotionally and academically. I’ve always believed that the parents are the primary teachers of a child and I’ve taken that responsibility quite seriously.

Hence, when the girls started school, I’ve always made it a point to be abreast with what’s been happening to them in the academic world. This includes school performances and extra curricular activities. When they were still in preschool, it was easier and didn’t take much time to sit down and point out the lessons to them. However, now that the two older ones are in grade school, it becomes quite a task to balance time and effort between the two girls.

It’s a good thing that I started early with Nadine, when she was still in Grade One. So now, she has honed her study habits and can read and study on her own. She comes to me for questions, spelling and review after she has read her lessons. With this, I am able to concentrate more on Raya and help her in establishing her own study habits too.

It isn’t easy teaching your own kids. I know friends who have tried and have given up saying that they just fight. And so to keep the peace in their relationships, they would rather hire a tutor to teach their kids. Honestly, it really isn’t easy. It takes a lot of patience to keep your cool and make sure that they get the lessons well. But I think I’ve grown a lot in that aspect and I’m happy with how things have turned out for us.

Being Teacher Mommy, as Raya sometimes calls me, is a great bonding experience for the girls and me. We take time to sit down and discuss and learn together. Sometimes, I lose my cool and get angry but then a reality check will get me back on track. I know that the girls, likewise, appreciate that I do this for them.

Teaching them personally is also a great way to learn more about the kids. Recently, I’ve realized how different their learning curves are and therefore, need different approaches in dealing with each of them.

Nadine is more auditory. She can listen to the teacher in class, pick up the important aspects of the lesson and remember them during tests. We review at home for her tests and exams and she is able to grasp concepts easily. Because of this, she prefers to discuss rather than do exercises and practice skills. For example, in Math, I keep on reminding her that she needs to do the activities in order to get the Math theories. At times, she does it with much reluctance then she realizes how easy the lessons are actually. Slowly she is learning the importance of practice and learning.

Raya, on the other hand, is a visual learner. She needs to see the lessons graphically or illustratively in order to get the concepts right. I learned this when we were practicing her spelling lessons. I used to get so frustrated when she couldn’t spell the words correctly no matter how much practice we do. Then I decided to take each word one by one, letter by letter, writing it down and showing her what comes next. Only then did she start getting her spelling correctly. Raya is also more diligent in doing exercises. She likes practicing and practicing until she gets it right.

But what I love about my girls is that both of them are eager to learn. I love it when Nadine comes to me to tell me about the auditory aspects of the ear or the taste areas of the tongue. Or when Raya proudly shows off the areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Both have that love for learning that I hope they will carry on until they grow older. Everyday, thus, becomes a learning adventure for us which I eagerly anticipate.

Beef Burrito

Description:
Another way to serve the Chili con Carne is to wrap into burritos! Good thing I had some flour tortilla around for this. Yum!

Ingredients:
flour tortillas
chili con carne
grated cheese
lettuce

Directions:
1. Heat the tortillas according to the directions. I heated it on a pan for a few minutes.
2. Place tortilla on a plate. Add a bed of lettuce strips. Place chili con carne on top and sprinkle grated cheese on top.
3. Fold tortilla into a burrito.
4. Enjoy!

Beef Burrito

Description:
Another way to serve the Chili con Carne is to wrap into burritos! Good thing I had some flour tortilla around for this. Yum!

Ingredients:
flour tortillas
chili con carne
grated cheese
lettuce

Directions:
1. Heat the tortillas according to the directions. I heated it on a pan for a few minutes.
2. Place tortilla on a plate. Add a bed of lettuce strips. Place chili con carne on top and sprinkle grated cheese on top.
3. Fold tortilla into a burrito.
4. Enjoy!

Chili con Carne

Description:
Mier bought a recipe magazine with Chili con Carne on the cover. Definitely a great picture to make me salivate and crave for some. Good thing I had some red beans stashed here and had all the ingredients ready for cooking. We invited my sister, Mabel, and her husband, Mackie, over to share it with us. Yum! AND lots of leftover afterwards too.

Ingredients:
1 pack red beans soaked overnight
1/2 k ground beef
garlic
onions
1 small pack tomato paste
1 pack tomato sauce
cumin powder
chili powder
dried oregano
salt
pepper
grated cheese
strips of lettuce
crushed taco shells

Directions:
1. Make sure that red beans are soaked overnight and soft before cooking.
2. Saute garlic and onions in hot oil.
3. Add ground beef and season with a little patis (or salt but I find patis tastier). Simmer until beef is brown all over. Stir to make sure that beef does not clump together.
4. Place red beans in a slow cooker. Add the cooked ground beef, tomato paste, tomato sauce, cumin powder, chili powder, dried oregano and season with salt and pepper. Mix it thoroughly and place in high.
5. Cook until beans are tender. You can add water if you want a thinner consistency.
6. Place on a bowl and garnish with grated cheese, strips of lettuce and crushed taco shells.

After her Nap

So nice to wake up with her smiling face right beside me. She let me take her photos and is such a willing subject. My darling Alyssa is not a baby anymore. She is a sweet and smart girl soon to be a big sister. :D

Chef Pala!

Two year old Alyssa says to our Yaya Annie: "Annie, you are a good SHET!"

Me: "Huh? What do you mean, Alyssa?"

Alyssa: "Annie can cook well."

Ahhh.... Alyssa meant CHEF! Hehehe!

Eggplant Parmagiana

Description:
Here's one of Mier and my favorite dishes at home. Usually I boil the eggplants but this time, I tried roasting them in the turbo broiler and they turned out just fine. :D

Ingredients:
5 eggplants
1/2 kilo of ground pork
3 cloves garlic
1 med onion
tomatoes
tomato sauce
salt
pepper
thyme
basil
2 packs tomato sauce
Parmesan cheese
grated cheese
Mozzarela or quick melt cheese

Directions:
Eggplant:
1. Place eggplants in turbo broiler and broil for 30 minutes at 150C.
2. Remove eggplant from turbo and remove skin.
3. Slice eggplants into strips depending on the size you want.

Meat Sauce:
1. Saute tomatoes til soft. Add garlic and onions.
2. Add meat. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle dried thyme and basil leaves. Cook meat til brown. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add tomato sauce and let simmer for another 10 minutes.

Assembly:
1. Layer a baking dish with eggplant slices.
2. Add meat sauce.
3. Add grated cheese (I had some grated quezo de bola which I added)
4. Repeat eggplant and meat sauce
5. Top again with grated cheese, lots of parmesan and mozzarela.
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheeses melt on top.
7. Serve with bread.

Fish Steak ala Pobre

Description:
Found these fish (Laya) in the grocery that looked good to eat. I thought of making Fish Tinola but found out too late that I forgot to buy vegetables (pechay) for the soupy dish. I decided to just marinate it and fry it instead. Turned out quite well! Raya loved it and even had seconds that evening. On leftover day (a few days after), the three girls had it again and it actually tasted yummier. :D

Ingredients:
1/4 cup calamansi juice
soy sauce
worcestershire sauce
knorr seasoning
garlic (minced)
butter
olive oil

Directions:
1. Marinate the fish with calamansi juice, little soy sauce, some worcestershire sauce and knorr seasoning.
2. When time to cook the fish, heat butter and olive oil in pan.
3. Fry the garlic until brown. This is tricky. When the garlic turns a little brown already, start removing them or you might burn the garlic.
4. In the same pan, fry the fish being careful not to overcook. About 2-3 minutes per side only. Remove from pan.
5. Place marinade in pan and let boil for a minute or two. Pour sauce over the fish and sprinkle garlic on top.
6. Serve hot!

Model in the Making

Alyssa was dressed up and all ready to go when she started posing. She loved her outfit, little fashionista that she is. Couldn't resist taking these photos of her. She's so adorable!

Playing in the rain on Father's Day

We had a full day during Father's day. Our ever reliable yaya asked for a day off because it was her birthday the day before. How could we say no when she seldom even goes out? So it was really truly a family day for us. We started off with breakfast at McDonald's. We would have gone to some place fancier but the kids were hungry (I think Mier was too) and McDo was an instant food supplier.

After breakfast, I wanted to buy some stuff at Gaisano City (Speedo cycling shorts for only P50! And some Girl Scout paraphernalia for Raya) so off we trooped to our favorite bargain mall. Mier found some Lego plates which he has been looking for and a big Lego ship all at a bargain. He also got the girls those new Toy Story 3 toys, which the girls were so thrilled about.

Then off we went to my parent's place for lunch. We ordered a leg of lechon baka and potato salad for a yummy lunch with everyone. We were just sooo full! Sorry, no pictures for that scrumptious meal. Hahaha!

When we got home, it suddenly poured! Mier asked the girls if they wanted to play in the rain and they were just really enthusiastic. It was a good day to spend with family. I think Mier enjoyed it just as well.

Shrimp Dampa

Description:
Had a kilo of shrimp in the freezer and wanted to try something new. Found this recipe and tried it. Turned out pretty well although I plan to tweak it a little more the next time I cook it. :D

Ingredients:
1 kg medium-sized shrimps
2 tbsp calamansi juice
4 tbsp garlic, minced
1/4 cup chili Sauce (I omitted this because I didn't have any in the pantry)
5 tbsp oyster Sauce
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup sliced leeks

Directions:
1. Combine shrimps, calamansi juice, chili sauce, oyster sayce, garlic, minced and butter and 1/4 cup of leeks. Bring to boil.
2. Lower heat and simmer until shrimps turn orange in color.
3. Garnish with remaining 1/4 cup of leeks before serving.

Books to Read

Found these books in Booksale last night when Mier and I went around. I knew right away that Nadine would love the stories of these young princesses. I bought the ones of Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Isabel of Spain and Queen Cleopatra. Nadine finished reading them in one morning and was so enthusiastic about their stories. She said she'll try to find more of these books when we go to SM.

I love it that she enjoys reading as much as I do. I've always been fascinated with stories on history and mythology and I'm so pleased that Nadine is discovering a whole new world in books.

I am trying to encourage Raya to start reading too. She can read already but doesn't have the patience for it. She sight reads instead of reading the words and so she sometimes gets the words mixed up. But she loves books just as well; just different kinds of books. She enjoys the ones with lots of pictures in it.

Raya actually has a collection of I Spy books from Scholastic and she loves looking for these stuff in the books. Was able to find another one to add to her collection.

I love Booksale! They make reading so much affordable!

Trying Out Big School

I finally made Alyssa try out big school today. I talked to the school registrar and was planning to have her sit in for five days next week. But yesterday, I got a set of preschool uniforms from a friend which were actually her size. I had them washed and asked Alyssa to fit them just to see. The uniforms fit perfectly!

Alyssa was so excited that she insisted on going to school the next day. So when I picked up the older girls yesterday, we dropped by the preschool faculty room and I asked Teacher Apple if it was okay for her to attend class today. Of course, Teacher Apple said yes.

Alyssa was so excited! She actually slept early last night because I told her she needed to wake up early so she won't be late. Hehehe! Look at her all excited in her uniform and her bag:


So now, I have three school girls. Here's another picture with Alyssa's big sisters, who were just as excited that she was going to school:

When we got to school, she said goodbye to me and just entered the classroom as soon as she saw Teacher Apple. Her class schedule is from 8am to 10am and she was all okay the whole time according to the teacher, as if she has been going to school from the start.

Teacher was so amused with her. She said that she was telling a story and asked the children what they think was inside the magic box in the story. All the other kids replied, toys, books, etc. But Alyssa said, "Jewels!" Hahaha! Kakaiba daw siya. :D That definitely is my Alyssa! :D

So I guess she'll be going to school again tomorrow and the following weeks. I think she's definitely ready for it. :D

Tuna Roni Casserole

Description:
On days that I forget to bring out meat from the freezer, this is such an easy alternative. The kids like the cheesy, tuna taste. :D

Ingredients:
Green and red peppers, diced
1/4 cup butter
1 onion
2 cans tuna in brine (I use Century Tuna)
Cream of mushroom soup
Salt and pepper, for seasoning
Elbow macaroni
Grated cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Cook elbow macaroni according to directions.
2. Fry green and red pepper in butter. Set aside.
3. Saute tuna followed by Cream of mushroom soup. Let simmer. Add a little water.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Add the green and red peppers and grated cheddar cheese.
6. Top with parmesan cheese.
7. Bake in 350 F for 10 to 15 minutes or until top is browned.

Ready for School?

I have been contemplating whether to send Alyssa to school already. She’s 2 years and 9 months right now and sooo very smart! She knows her shapes and colors and can count from 1 to 20. She’s very observant and alert and knows so many things that she surprises even me and her dad.

Mier says not to rush her, that she’ll be in school for a long time anyway and that we need not let her start this year. I feel, however, that she knows enough of the basics and that school is not just a learning ground for the academics but as well as for socialization with kids her age and other adults aside from us in the home.

Although Alyssa gets to socialize with her two older sisters, she usually gets her way simply because she’s the youngest and screams the loudest. (Hehe!) I want her to learn how to deal with other people especially with those her age.

I remember enrolling Nadine in a toddler class at age two years and three months. At that time, Raya was just a month old and I thought Nadine needed an activity that was hers alone. I was wrong. She wasn’t ready for school and wasn’t ready to be away from me and the baby. I didn’t want her to feel that she was being sent away so I can spend more time with Raya. I decided to pull her out and wait for a better time.

That summer, when Nadine was two years and seven months, I enrolled her again in preparation also for the incoming school year. Although I had to sit down with her in class for a week, this time she was more mature and more ready to go to school.

Raya was a different matter. She had expressed independence even at a very young age. Four days after she turned two years old, she DECIDED that she was going to school. She chose her bag and her clothes and her shoes and was ready to go with Nadine to school. I thought, let her try it. She’ll probably ask to be picked up in the middle of the class or maybe not even enter the gates once we were there.

Boy, was I wrong again! She neither looked at me nor said goodbye! She went straight inside the classroom. I was left standing by the gate with my mouth wide open. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! I went to school early to pick her up and she didn’t even want to go home just yet. Although she is always one of the younger ones in the class, Raya has always been one of the top students.

Now with Alyssa, I’m still not sure whether to send her to school or not. She doesn’t insist on going although she does say that she misses her sisters when they leave in the mornings. I feel that she’s ready for this adventure called school and would enjoy it tremendously just like her sisters before her. I also think that she’s old enough to understand about the coming baby and won’t really feel left out. Besides, school will only be a few hours a day for her. Maybe I should let her try a few days and see how things will turn out. We’ll see.

First Day of School - June 2010

I think I was just as excited as they were for their first day of school. :D But I must admit that seeing Raya in her Grade One uniform brought tears to my eyes. Can't believe she's in Elementary already! Sniff!

Green Beans and Egg Salad

Description:
Another favorite side dish of the family. My girls usually prefer eating the egg only but we've convinced them to eat some of the green beans too even if they still eat more egg. :D We like having this with the Paksiw na Pata or Chicken Asado.

Ingredients:
Green beans
Eggs
Mayonnaise
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
1. Clean the green beans by removing the tips. Cut them into bite size pieces.
2. Drop eggs into boiled water and let stay for 10 to 15 minutes to make sure that eggs are truly hard boiled already.
3. Remove eggs from shells and cut into small pieces.
4. Combine eggs and green beans and add mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper.

Made With Love

When I was pregnant with my first born Nadine, my tita gave me a plastic bag full of baby clothes, "pamana" from my younger cousins. In this plastic bag were small crocheted booties. I've always believed that my maternal grandmother, Lola Cely, was the one who made these (although my tita wasn't really sure). My Lola has always been nimble with her hands and she enjoyed making things for her children and grandchildren. Since my sister, Mabel, is having a boy, I passed on the blue and green booties to her while I kept the pinks and yellows. Here is a picture of these booties that were left with me:


I love the booties! Usually newborn shoes are too big for 0-3 month old infants. So you'll have to make them wear socks or go barefoot. These crocheted booties made my girls look all dressed up even with the simplest clothes. Yes, they were not just cute. They looked so fashionable.

While pregnant also with Nadine, I bought flannela in Kamuning to use as receiving blankets for my coming baby. My Lola Cely patiently crocheted the edges of these blankets. I love the crocheted look plus the love and patience that came with it. She crocheted about a dozen blankets for me and a number of cloth diapers too for me to use as lap pads. These blankets were used by Nadine, Raya and Alyssa and I will definitely be using them for our coming baby girl:

Now while waiting for this coming baby, I thought of crocheting the edges of diapers once again. I actually enjoyed doing these. It's just a simple crocheted blanket stitch and not difficult to do.


And one afternoon while busy with my hands I thought of a name for my baby --- Cecilia Amarise. Cecilia is my Lola Cely's real name and is the patron saint of music while Amarise is a Hebrew name meaning "Given by God." I've never really heard of the name Amarise so I  was surprised that it came into my mind and the meaning of the name. Perhaps it is from my baby letting me know about it and deciding for herself what name she wants. Yes, still in the tummy and already having a mind of her own! Her nickname will be "Cerise" which I also love because of it's uniqueness.

The booties, the blankets, the diapers all made with love by my Lola. Cerise, made with love by Mier and me. So much to look forward to. Another heart to love, another soul to nurture. We can't wait!

Beef Taco Salad

Description:
Here's another way to make my kids eat vegetables. When we eat tacos we usually break the shells anyway so we just opt to make taco salad instead. :D

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo ground beef
1 onion diced for saute
3 cloves garlic for saute
chili powder
cumin powder
salt
pepper
tomatoes diced
onions diced
grated cheese
sour cream (or all-purpose cream)
shredded lettuce
taco chips

Directions:
1. Saute, in little oil, diced onion and garlic.
2. Add ground beef. Season with salt pepper, chili powder and cumin powder.
3. Continue cooking until juices have evaporated and beef brings out own oil. Toast a little.
4. In a bowl, put taco shells, lettuce, ground beef, diced tomatoes, diced onions, grated cheese and cream.
5. Mix and enjoy!

Paksiw na Pata

Description:
This is another frequent viand at home because it is one of the easiest dishes to prepare. Mix, marinade then cook. Simple!

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pata slices
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup water
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp brown sugar
1-2 laurel leaves
ground pepper
banana blossoms
2-3 saging na saba

Directions:
1. Combine together in a saucepan pata, soy sauce, vinegar, water, garlic, sugar, laurel leaves and pepper.
2. Marinade for 20-30 minutes.
3. Let boil then simmer til meats are soft.
4. Add banana blossoms and plantain bananas.
5. Let boil for a few minutes then turn off heat.
6. Serve hot with rice.

Aches and Pains

Ahhh... Seems like the aches and pains of pregnancy is more pronounced now. Is it because this is my 4th child? Or maybe because I am a lot older now? I thought it would be easier since I know what to expect this time around. Guess I was mistaken.

I've always wanted a big family. I think this was influenced by my maternal grandmother who has 9 children (all married), 27 grandchildren, 5 grandchildren in law and 8 (going on 11) great grandchildren. Reunions and sunday lunches were always a riot! Of course, I didn't dream to have THAT many children but enough to have a fun home.

One night when we were newlyweds, Mier and I came up with 6 names --- 3 names for girls and 3 names for boys. Names that we'd like to give to our kids. Yes, at that time, we dreamed of having 6 kids. But now we've decided to just have 4. Well, I did because I don't think I'd want to go through getting pregnant again.

As usual the first trimester of my pregnancy was just as bad --- beset with morning sickness that lasted the whole day, and nausea. Many times I was depressed for having to go through it all again. Didn't I learn my lesson the first time? Obviously I don't because when I hold my baby in my arms, all hardships are swept away.

Yes, I was depressed, crying uncontrollably and hating the fact that I was pregnant once again. But even if I felt that way, everyday, I'd talk to my unborn baby and let her know that I HATE being pregnant but I LOVE her and the fact that she is mine. Somehow I know she understands.

Now as I enter my 6th month, the nausea has gone but that awful taste in my tongue is still there. Sometimes I still throw up when I've eaten something that doesn't go with my system. My tummy has grown quite big already that I have difficulty moving around. And I feel my baby squirming and stretching inside me. I can't wait to have her out of my stomach and into my arms; to smell her baby scent; to feed her with my milk. Soon, soon.

Asking Permission

One time while we were at my grandmother’s house, my brother asked where my kids were. I told him that they went next door to check out the dogs for sale. (My kids love dogs!) My brother asked, “Did they ask permission?” “Yes,” I replied. If you know my children, they will not do anything without asking permission from me or from their dad.

Another time while Raya and I were at the Mother-Daughter activity of her school, all the other kids and classmates started running to the garden after having their snacks. Raya dutifully came to me and asked me first if she could go with her classmates to the garden. I, of course, allowed her to do so. A mother noticed this and was amazed how Raya asked first instead of going with the flow. I just smiled and told her that they were brought up that way.

I don’t really know how we began this practice. I remember that we started with just making them ask permission when they would want to watch TV. At that time, I really wanted to regulate their TV watching and instilled this rule at home. They probably thought it applied to everything else.

It helped that Nadine, our firstborn, is a very conscientious and sensitive child. Since Raya, our next child, idolizes her big sister, she followed suit without questions. Right now, it’s Alyssa who’s learning to ask permission whenever she wants to do something although she needs to be reminded to do so time and again. This 3rd girl is irresistibly adorable but can be irritatingly stubborn when it comes to teaching her. Maybe it’s the toddler stage so more patience is needed on my part. Sigh.

Another key to this habit would probably be our goal to have open communication with the girls and telling them that we, their parents, are genuinely concerned with their welfare and life. We’ve always wanted them to feel free to tell us what they think and how they feel and not to be afraid to express themselves. This, of course, is done with respect. We hope that this will carry through especially when they reach their teenage years.

I must admit, though, that sometimes it can get quite irritating and annoying when they would ask permission for even the most mundane things. But as I was telling Mier, we’ll just have to be patient about this right now and we will reap the rewards later on. I hope that this would be training ground for them when they are older; that they would think twice about doing things they know would not make us happy. And with that they would develop a conscience in doing what is right instead of what their friends think is right. I hope and pray that what we’re doing now would mold them into becoming better people and citizens of the world.

Holdup!

Yes, holdup! That's what I feel right now. I came from the girls' school this morning to buy their books and uniforms and once again I find myself with an empty wallet. Sigh.

I purposely did not enrol, buy their books and uniforms and get their school supplies in one go so it won't be too heavy in the pocket. I enrolled the end of April, got school supplies last weekend and bought the books and uniforms today. But nevertheless, the bank account sure feels the pressure of education. And that's only with two kids in the grade school. What happens when Alyssa starts school? Or when all four of them go to school already? Sigh. Double sigh.

Early this summer we found a school bag for Raya which she liked and we got it right away before we lose it. I talked to Nadine about using her old school bag. Of course, she was disappointed. Who wouldn't want to start the school year with new stuff, right? I explained to her that her old bag is still good and useful. And that Raya, who is entering Grade 1 needs a bigger bag. Nadine reluctantly agreed. I told her she can get the notebooks she wanted (the ones with puppies on the cover). I also said that I will get her what she needs --- new uniforms --- while Raya can wear her old ones. Good thing, Raya is easy to talk to about these things. She herself chose an old pencil case (with elephants, of course!) as her school pencil case.

Both girls will need new shoes and socks too. Not to mention scouting and PE uniforms when classes start. Sigh again.

I wish I had a limitless bank account. But even if I did, I don't want my children to get used to having their way and new things all the time. I want them to learn to be content with what they have. Life won't always be easy and although we'd want to shield them from the harshness of the world, we also need to prepare them for what might be. Such is life.

Alyssa and Ruby

Some months back, Mier got the girls a chihuahua which they named, Ruby. The girls were ecstatic!

When Nadine was younger, she used to be afraid of dogs. I think this was because her yaya then was afraid of dogs and had transferred that fear to her. But Mier, who is a dog lover, slowly helped Nadine overcome this fear. We had a yellow and a black labrador and a rottweiller when we were in Manila and the girls just loved them.

Now with Ruby, the girls are learning responsibility and gentleness. Ruby is very malambing and loves to be cuddled all the time. Here Alyssa shows just how much she adores her puppy. :D

Summer Time with the Kids

We’re right in the middle of the summer and the kids have been bumming around for the most part. So glad that the two older ones are nearly the best friends and don’t really fight as much. The youngest one is a different story. At two years old, she demands her time and wants for everyone to hear much to the dismay of the “ates.” It is a lesson being learned for her to ask properly and learn how to get along with her sisters. Sometimes she complies, sometimes she doesn’t, lots of time-outs for her in the process.

We haven’t been doing much since Recognition and Graduation Day during the last week of March. No travel plans for us this year as being in the family way has made it difficult for me to travel and go around. My in laws were here for Holy Week and we spent a weekend in Opol frolicking in the beach and pigging out on fish, shrimps and crabs. Yum!

Last week, Nadine and Raya once again began their Junior Golf Sessions at the Pueblo de Oro Golf Estates. We were surprised that they expressed interest in golf again as I can still remember their complaints of heat, perspiration and tiredness last summer. But honestly, I’m happy that they wanted to go through it again. We’ve always wanted them to get into sports and this might be the sport they’d be good at.

Although two days after they started, Nadine started complaining about tiredness and muscles aches again. She said she didn’t want to continue golf anymore. I told her that since she hasn’t been using her muscles for a long time it is expected that they would hurt in the first few days but will improve after a while. I reiterated that it isn’t nice to get into something and bail out in the middle of it all. I think after a few more sessions and she’ll start enjoying the game again.

During their first day, we could see that both girls have improved in their form and skill even after months of absence. I think it won’t take long for them to get into the groove again.

Raya has been the busiest among the three girls. Early on she had expressed her desire to take painting and arts lessons being offered in their school. She’s thoroughly enjoying the three times a week session. Likewise, I’ve asked my sister to give her enrichment activities to prepare her for Grade One next school year. So far, so good.

We still have the full month of May to think of other activities to do to keep the girls busy. Then we’ll have to be getting ready for school. How fast time flies!

Baked Chicken with Thyme

Description:
This dish is one of my mom's favorite dishes because it is sooo easy to make. Easy and yummy too!

This goes well with mashed potatoes or potato salald. :-)

Ingredients:
Chicken cut into pieces -- I usually prefer chicken thighs but any part would do.
Pepper
Dried Thyme
Soy sauce

Directions:
1. Wash chicken thoroughly and put in a baking dish
2. Sprinkle pepper and thyme around each part of chicken
3. Put enough soy sauce to soak chicken (but not too much) then leave to marinate for 30 minutes while turning it around.
4. Cook in oven (or I use a turbo broiler) for 45 minutes to an hour.

Things to do During a Brownout

So with the scheduled brownouts now five hours everyday and school  already out, what are we to do to entertain the kids? I’ve always believed that TV and computer shouldn’t be at the center of a child’s life. So here are some activities we do during the brownouts:

• Read – Well, whether there’s electricity or not my kids read everyday so this isn’t anything new. But they do enjoy the time just looking and browsing through their picture books. Nadine reads junior novels already so her time is pre occupied with this.
• Play with their toys – Again, nothing new for my kids. They can spend hours and hours just playing with their toys in their room. Even Alyssa has her own imaginative play already. Yup, the toys are all worth the price.
• Board and card games – I came out of the room one day and saw Nadine and Raya quietly playing Word for Word (similar to Scrabble) then moved on to Chess afterwards. Don’t think they finished their games though but it was nice seeing them do stuff to entertain themselves. They would play their Pokemon cards too or Lucky 9 with ordinary playing cards.
• Give the dog a bath – Or just simple play with the dog. Nadine had fun soaping and washing the dog and getting wet too in the process. She went straight to bathe herself afterwards. Another time, Raya asked permission if she can just stay outside with our dog Max. Mier found her quietly patting the dog and removing the ticks. Hahaha!
• Go to the park – A day at the park definitely spells fun for the kids. They enjoyed the swings, slide, seesaw and monkey bars. You can also pick flowers, blow bubbles, catch insects and kick the ball. Or even fly a kite on a windy day.
• Arts and Crafts Projects – The kids set up a table outside and brought out their paints and crayons. They just drew, colored and painted the afternoon away good thing we bought newsprint paper for the kids to use. Even Alyssa enjoyed drawing and coloring.
• Batya Swimming at the Back – Ahhh, another favorite pastime of my girls. They wouldn’t mind spending countless hours just lazing around in our laundry basins at the back of our house. We ask them to wash their shoes too or choose some stuff toys to bathe too so at least they are cleaning and doing something productive as well.
• Shadow Play – For those nighttime brownouts, the girls created paper puppets and used the back of the couch as their stage. They made stories and came up with little plays. We also made shadow animals with our hands and even Alyssa enjoyed trying to guess the animal.
• Tell Stories – My girls always love hearing how they were born and how they were when they were smaller. We look at photo albums and see how they have grown all these years and read what they use to do.

There are countless other stuff that can be done during the brownouts. We are challenged to be more and more creative to keep the kids entertained especially with the summer rolling in. But I do hope government officials will do something about the power crisis. It isn’t enough to think of stuff to do for the kids but the heat can be unbearable too.

Facebook for Kids?

About a few months back, Nadine was asking if she could get a Facebook account. According to her, a lot of her friends and classmates and cousins have already and she wanted to join the bandwagon. I think the main reason why we had to think twice about this is because the Internet is not entirely safe. And especially for children her age, I would rather that she get into it when she’s a little older already.

But after a lot of thinking, I thought, well, we don’t want her to be left out also with her friends and as long as it’s regulated and supervised maybe it would be ok. Besides, a lot of people I now allow their kids for the games only. And I’ve read about an article how parents can monitor their children through Facebook. But when we tried signing up, we found out that there is an age limit --- only for people who are 13 and above.

What did this mean? All these classmates and friends and cousins of hers have changed their ages so that they can get Facebook account. With this information, we decided that no, we would not let her join Facebook. We don't want to teach her to be dishonest even if it is as simple as changing her age just so she can get what she wants. The minimum age requirement was put there for a good reason.

Now I don’t want to sound high and mighty or righteous about this. I just feel that sometimes we aren’t aware that our actions are magnified heavily by our children. As they say, children live by example. And what lesson will she be learning if we allow her this Facebook account?

I know that this is just a simple case but will teach her values that I hope she will adopt in the long run. It isn’t easy to be a parent. We have to choose our battles and our actions carefully because these have an impact on our children. But we have to do it because they are our responsibility. In the end, I want to face my God and tell him that I did all that I could to bring up a good and upstanding person.

Project 365

Last year, someone in my circle of egroups suggested doing Project 365. The goal is to take a photo everyday for the whole year. Since most of us are into memory keeping and scrapbooking, this was meant to photograph a highlight of one’s day and journal about it and eventually creating a photo diary at the end of the year.

I just found out that this challenge has been going around photography groups for years already. For photographers, using the camera everyday can help make one a better photographer, help you compose shots better, be aware of lighting and become more creative in photography.

Likewise, this enables one to document the extraordinary and the mundane aspects of your life --- travels, accomplishments, haircuts, relationships, etc. Having this documentation will help you recall what happened on a particular day and what made that day special.

Anyway last year, I tried doing the Project but sadly wasn’t able to follow through. I think I stopped mid May and got really busy to take that photo a day. Or maybe I just wasn’t really into it since I wasn’t able to start on Day 1.

This year, with the encouragement of my dear friend Christine Gooding, I decided to try again. This time, we are a group of women doing it and we motivate and encourage each other into finishing it until the end of the year. Wouldn’t it be nice to look back and see what has happened in the past 365 days?

Life is short and time moves very fast. I want to be able to appreciate each and every day and makes sure that each moment counts.

I don’t intend to create a diary of sorts or to enumerate what happened for the whole day. I just want to document a highlight of the day, something significant that made my day special. A friend of mine does it like a gratitude journal; something to be happy about for the day like good weather, healthy family, etc.

The nice thing about the Project 365 is that it makes you take stock of the little things in your life. The stuff that you usually take for granted is given more meaning. I think the challenge should be more than just documenting your life but to be able to appreciate life more. If this is the goal, I think it would be easier to follow through.

It may or may not even be a photo journal. Just a small note in a calendar or a pocket diary would suffice. And if you miss a day or two, don’t fret. Just go on and continue where you left off. The important part is that you are aware of what is happening in your life and what you are going through.

Sinigang na Tadyang ng Baboy

Description:
This is our family's all-time favorite dish. Nothing tastes like home like this soup. Although pork liempo would be good for this, we prefer pork ribs.

Ingredients:
1/2 k of pork ribs
tomatoes
onions
garlic
sinigang mix (I prefer Maggi)
kangkong
okra
eggplants


Directions:
Saute the tomatoes first until soft. Then add the onions and garlic. When all soft, put the ribs and a little patis and allow to simmer with all its juices. After 10 to 15 minutes, add water and the sinigang mix. Allow to boil then simmer. When meats are soft, add the talong and okra, then the kangkong leaves. let simmer til vegetables are cooked. Serve hot.