At the Homefront

Community Service with Techni-ICE

2012-05-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

I am outdoors a lot. I do not play a lot of sports, but working for an NGO requires me to do lot of legwork, mainly in poor communities. We schedule a lot of talks with local community leaders, conduct workshops and feeding programs, and launch discussions with the community or other groups interested in our advocacy. Most of the time, the hours we spend outside the office fall within the time frame that scientists advise people to spend indoors. And I tell you, it is hot out there!

Ate Arlene in one of our activities

From around 10 am, I can feel the sun slowly intensifying its heat, reaching its peak at around 2pm. By then, I’ve already shed a significant amount of sweat.

Some days are more bearable than others. These are the times when clouds litter the sky and provide us a brief respite from the sun’s burning rays. Or those times when the breeze blows and cools us down. I even catch myself trying to whistle when the air is so still or the soft wind isn’t enough to refresh us. Whistling, according to old wives’s tales, invites the wind to blow. :D

But there are those days when the sun is beating down so hard with nary a cloud in the sky, and all you want to do is lie naked in your bedroom , spreadeagled, to let the air from the creaky fan reach even your smallest crevices. Pardon me, but that’s how I feel and imagine I would do given the chance.

This is how to do it!

Sadly, the latter are more frequent than the former. To keep cool during field work, I’ve resorted to using ice water which is readliy and cheaply available in sarisari stores. After drinking, I douse my hanky with the cold water and dab my face with it. Then I put it on my nape, for two reasons, one to refresh me and two, to prevent my nape from darkening. Hehehe!

But of course, I have to endure walking around town with a wet tshirt because the hanky drips water, which isn't really long because my ice cold hanky dries up faster than you can say "Geronimo!" So much for my bright idea. (Actually, the wet tshirt is easier to endure than the afternoon heat of the sun.)

With Techni-ICE revolutionizing the way we cool down (or heat up) things, I have found an excellent solution to this problem. It would just be very convenient to switch from a wet hanky into a pack of Techni-ICE Dry Ice Packs Heavy-Duty Re-usable (HDR-Regular) which is perfect to use as a cold compress.

Because lasts 4-7 times longer than the wet ice we are more familiar with, it can withstand marathon meetings. It's lightweight material also means I can pack it with me when we do the rounds of the communities.

No more wet hanky to keep cool!

Since Techni-ICE is like dry ice but in a significantly more flexible way, I could just slap it on my nape and enjoy refreshing coolness without the ackward drip marks! Ahlavet!

I also love the fact that it is made with a fully washable material which means it is hygienic and can be used and re-used for many years. Perfect for a practical mom/world peace advocate (LOL parang beauty pageant lang) like me!

With Techni-ICE, reaching out to the poor communities, even if it means baking in the sun, has never been more fun and fruitful! Now, you can focus on the task at hand and stop complaining about the weather!

Here are some other uses for Techni-ICE:

Use as a cold compress when either of my two children have fever, to keep their temperatures in check during fever.

Use them as an eye pack!

Use it as a warm compress to relieve abdominal pain when my period has come.

Use it to keep baby warm during cold nights.

Use it as a heater when we head for Sagada some time this year!

Watch the video and explore the possibilities of using Techni-ICE!

Our DIY First Birthday Party plus Bubble Party Ideas!

2012-03-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

My son just celebrated his first birthday. And we had ourselves a DIY party! Let me show you how to plan a DIY party.

I was initially planning on having his birthday in another private pool just like his christening but I opted to be more practical. I read somewhere that it's easier to plan a party if you have a definite theme, so I browsed the net to get my creative juices flowing.

I wanted to stay away from the overrated Safari or Cartoon-related themes. I wanted something original and simple too. I opted for the Bubble Party Theme.

Spongebob, Patrick and Squidward

The cake doesn't exactly match the theme but it was the nearest one from the local neighborhood baker's selection.

See the Balloons taped to the walls!

I was planning to hang clear balloons from the ceiling but I was afraid I'd ruin the paint and besides, I couldn't find clear ones. So I just bought these in assorted color, pre-printed with Happy Birthday. The cost, Php55.55 (just an estimate, I forgot the exact amount)

Party Loot in a Cup!

For the loot bags, I bought bubble gums, bubble pops, bubble solutions (Php10 each from the market), and put them in paper cups (Php50/10 pcs).

I was trying to find plastic balloons (You remember those do you?) but couldn't find them in any big supermarkets. I also didn't have the time to go to quiapo or divisoria just for that. But, for those who may want to find these childhood playthings, you can find them at JC Supermarket in Kamuning.

Jimmy isn't my son's name :)

Here's a tip for the bubble solutions: Personalize them by printing out your own labels and cover the original one. Put tape all over your label to prevent it from getting wet.

You can also make your own bubble solution using a dishwashing soap, water and some glycerin.

For the blowing tools, borrow some cookie cutters, funnels and other cooking implements from your kitchen!

For an added touch, I had my son's pictures from birth till present printed out in 2R. I placed it in one corner for the gifts. And put up another batch by the food table. I wanted our guests to see how my son has developed over the months.

Picture Wall

I was never a fan of giveways, birthdays or otherwise, that serve no other purpose besides being another decor so I naturally stayed away from that. Instead I decided to just print out a Thank You note and place it beside the loot bags.

Our printed out Thank You note

For the food, in keeping with the theme, we had Spaghetti with meatballs, Puto and Dinuguan, Corndogs and Chicken Lollipops.

You can also serve fishballs, melon balls, mango balls, donut holes (like smidgets etc.)

Have you had your own DIY party? What theme did you explore? I would love to hear it.

Active Fun

2012-03-20T04:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my daughter's dream of playing in indoor playgrounds finally came true. Actually, this is a long overdue Christmas gift from us. I bought one Unlimited Pass to ActiveFun from MetroDeal for her. She has been badgering me for the longest time into letting her play in one of those pay playgrounds you find at the mall. At their very steep price of Php80 per hour, at the very least, of course I won't let her. But when I found this very enticing deal, I just knew I should grab it!

My MetroDeal Active Fun Voucher!

Active Fun has two sections, one for toddlers 5years old and below and the other for much larger kids. My daughter is already seven years old so she went running along with the bigger kids. We went on a weekend and it wasn't as packed as I was imagining it to be.

As we walked up the counter and handed our voucher, we were given a sheet of paper to fill-up, the one they use to monitor the kids inside the play area. In a while, the snack included in our voucher package was also given us. I was told that they have no ice cream and will be providing a biscuit instead. It wasn't a big deal at all, but I appreaciated their honesty. In addition to one Magic Biscuit and Soyami, a bottle of water was also given. :) And off my daughter went!

Tambiolo!

Giant Slide!

Wall-mounted Piano in the Toddler Section

At SM North Edsa Annex, Active Fun has a very large area. It even has a spacious waiting area for parents. Just outside the playing area, but still within Active Fun, parents can comfortably wait for their kids. If they want to have a snack while waiting, or if their child gets hungry from all the playing, they can buy some from the store conveniently and strategically operated by Active Fun itself. Outside food is not allowed inside however.

Besides the waiting area, another area is also available for parties.

Activity Area for parties!

Security-wise, I give Active Fun a thumbs-up. I was handed a security card which indicates the number my daughter was assigned with. Every transaction I make at the "gate" of the play area, this card is asked for my the "guards". Without it, you won't be entertained. So, if you have something to tell your child, hand the number to one of the "guards" and they'll page him/her for you. But before they open the gate to let your child out, they first make sure that they release him/her to the right person.

Active Fun is also very convenient for parents who may want to go somewhere else for a little while but have nobody to attend to their children. Inside the play area, they have cub holes for the child's things, like shoes, extra shirt,snacks etc. I personally left my daughter for about 30 minutes to attend to another matter at hand, and I felt secure doing that knowing that Active Fun won't let my daughter out unless someone produces the security card assigned to her.

Admittedly, though, if it weren't for the voucher I got, I still won't let my daughter in here. The price is steep! Steeper than most, actually. For the Unlimited Pass voucher, I paid only Php175. I clearly saved Php200! Not bad at all!

Price List

Notice, though, the Pricelist and the voucher has different claims. In my MetroDeal Voucher, the deal is worth Php500, but in Active Fun itself, its just Php375. :( I still saved Php200, but it is also a reminder to research first before clicking the buy button.

Greatness Starts at Home

2012-03-12T08:52:00.002-07:00

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

Greatness is such a big word. It is both a privilege and a responsibility. You cannot be great and be oblivious to your society. Think Tandang Sora, Teresa Magbanua and Gabriela Silang. As much as they are shaped by times they were born into, the foundation of their greatness was laid within the four walls of their home.

Knowing this, I try to be a good example for my kids. This is a far more efficient tool in teaching them the values that they need for life than just words. I want them to dream big and strive for it. But one thing I also impress in them is social responsibility. If they want to reach for the stars, they should do it with the people, and not at their cost.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

Eversince my daughter, the eldest, was small, I have trained her to sort her stuff, clothes and toys alike, into two groups, To Keep and To Giveaway. Although I regularly ask her to do this, our biggest activity was after Typhoon Ondoy ravaged the metro. We were one of the families who fell victim to nature’s wrath but we were still better off than others. So after, cleaning up, our family – each carrying a pack of clothes or provisions- went to the nearest gasoline station that takes in donations.

And it seems my efforts has paid off. In one contest sponsored by Citizen’s Disaster Response Center in 2010, she sent an entry for the earthquake category. It wasn’t anything fancy but it rang with the honesty of a child and the wisdom of an adult.

Though she didn’t win the Grand prize and was only one of the finalists, at 6 years old, she was the contest’s youngest participant and finalist!

I was especially proud of her because the contest piece that we entered was entirely her own concept. She drew was a picture of earthquake-damaged houses. Below, you’ll see people with plastic bags containing donations, practice she is quite familiar with.

Here's her entry!

Yes, that's Zoren Legaspi in the picture!

You may strive to be like them,

but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

Besides this, my daughter also shows compassion. It was more than I would expect from a 6 year old. When my grandmother died that same year, she drew a picture of my grandma and her house in the province. It had trees. The sun was shining high and there were birds in the air.

It was a simple goodbye to her great-grandma that beats any verbose letter.

She placed it on top of the casket and inspired others to do the same. The few days before the interment, another letter of farewell sits atop the casket beside my daughter’s own.

It’s just too bad that nobody thought of taking a picture of it. It offers a peek into how a child deals with death, or anything negative for that matter, and turns it into something that productive and positive.

At home with measles, doodling around.

You are the bows from which your children

as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

But after everything has been said and done, I really cannot push my daughter to be someone else other than herself. Meaning, I do not and will not impose on my daughter my own vision of her. Kahlil Gibran was spot on when he wrote that our children are not our children. As much as I would like to take control of my daughter, I can only guide her into pursuing what she wants to be, exploring her passions and expanding her horizon, and hope that she turns out to be a strong woman aware of her personal rights and social responsibilities with a good head on her shoulders and a golden heart.

And that would be greatness in every sense of the word. Indeed.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies,

so He loves also the bow that is stable.

- Kahlil Gibran's

On Children

Extra-Challenge: The >15K Party PART 2 (Invitations)

2011-11-12T23:56:00.001-08:00

Throwing a party means you have to invest as much, if not more, effort in preparing for it. Moms like me want to be practical these days. So I challenged myself to have a party for less than Php15k, for everything including venue, invitations and food.

I didn't shell out much for the party invites for my daughter's 7th birthday and my son's christening. Here are some bright and practical ideas:

1. Put up a blog or website
You can customize this so it can include all the pertinent details, such as the time and place. You can also upload beautiful photos you can use as a background or design. You can even put a Google Map so your guests can instantly see where the venue is located. If you have a theme, you can design your blog around it.

This is what I did. :DD

You can use Tumblr, Blogger, or Weebly. I find these platforms very user-friendly.

2.Use the Facebook Create Event Function
Nowadays, who doesn't use Facebook? Even my nephews have their own accounts and set of Facebook friends. Use this FB function to invite your guests. If you are not confident enough to try your hand at making a blog or a website, using the FB Create an Event is much simpler.

According to Facebook itself,

You can create an event directly from the "Events" box on the right-hand column of your home page. By typing your event into the "What are you planning?" field, a form will open. After you add a time and place, your event will be created.
You can also create events by going to your Events dashboard and then clicking "Create an Event" in the upper right corner of the page. From here, you can customize the event, edit its privacy settings and invite guests. Please note that you must include an event name and time. You can also create an event from the Publisher on your home page or profile (timeline).

3. Print Picture Invitations as Pictures

Ask a family member or a friend to do a simple layout for your party using Photoshop. If you're familiar with Photoshop, do it yourself. Have it printed as pictures, instead of using fancy paper. The cost is 2-4 pesos each depending on the size.

Do you have any more ideas? Feel free to share them, please!

Smiles!

La Verenna Resort Review

2011-11-12T22:10:00.001-08:00

You may remember that a few months back, I posted a blog about having a party for less than 15K. We'll we did it! I'll post a more detailed post about it later, for now, I'd like to share my review on the venue that we found.

In my Extra-Challenge: The >15K Party PART 1 (Venue Hunting) post, I offered 4 budget private pool options that's good for 30-50 pax. In the end, we opted for another one, the La Verenna Resort.

La Verenna Resort is located at B. Mariano st., Sta.Ana, San Mateo, Rizal, owned and operated by Gil and Gilda Welan. The location itself wasn't hard to find. They've provided a map in their Multiply site. All you need to have is a basic sense of direction and you won't find yourself getting lost. Although a non-issue, I think you should know that it is very near, approximately 10-20 meters away, the public cemetary. You might find this information useful in the future.

It is an enclosed compound with a modest parking area that can fit up to 6 cars. It has a number of huts so your guests can relax and spend time with old friends, while the pools and the gazebo provide venues to mingle with the other guests.

They have two pools: one kidde pool and a much bigger pool.

My daughter enjoying the kiddie pool

Relaxing in one of the many huts

There's one gazebo and one pavilion. We initially prepped the smaller one, the gazebo, for the food, but moved eventually to the pavilion. The roofs were made from G.I. sheets without any ceiling, so it was very hot in there. It was a sweltering May day and not a breeze was blowing. Perfect for swimming, you might say, but the heat from the sheets made my head hurt. It would have helped if the put it some sort of a buffer to filter the heat.

Add caption

We rented the place for a whole day. For Php7,000, I thought it was better than throwing away more than that for a fastfood birthday bash that's going to last only an hour or two. The 7k rate was already good for 50 pax, inclusive of all the native huts, the gazebo, pavilion, videoke and the tables and chairs.

Mr. Gil very kindly gave me a copy of their rates.

Venue Fee
Daytime: 8am - 5pm 7,000 - 50 pax max 8,000 - 70 pax max 10,000 - 90 pax max *per hour extension - Php800
Overnight: 7pm - 6am
8,000 - 50 pax max 9,000 - 70 pax max 12,000 - 100 pax max *per hour extension - Php700
Prices are inclusive of all open cottages, pavilion, gazebo and videoke
Electricity Charges
Electric Fan - Php100Radio/Stereo - Php100Rice Cooker -Php 200Griller/Electric Stove -Php 250Television Set -Php150laptop - Php 100Water Hot/Cold Dispenser - Php 250Ice Cream Maker - Php500
Corkage Fees:
Catering Corkage Fee - Php1000/100paxMobile -Php500Band -Php1,500Video Cam -Php 300Monoblock Chairs -Php1.00/chairMonoblock Tables -Php5.00/table
Other Facilities:
Billiards -Php70/hourAircon Rooms -Php1,000/5hours

They require a 50% downpayment for reservations. They also offer special prices for occasions such as weddings, debut, seminars, etc. Plus catering services, floral arrangement, chairs/tables supplies and other party needs.

La Verenna has two houseboys on call which will tend to the gate in case anyone needs to go out or come in. They keep themselves unobtrusive, occupying the furthermost hut.

When we arrived around 9 am to set the place up, they were in the process of the cleaning the pool for our use. By 12nn, everything was ready.

The videoke, which is part of the package wasn't set up when we arrived. Good thing that my dad asked about the videoke or I would have forgotten about it.

The owner himself was there that morning but left shortly after. I'm glad he did. It would be very uncomfortable to have someone keeping an eagle's eye to our every move. And he's not very polite either.

When my brother took a dip in the pool in his pants, he angrily told him to lose the pants, when he could've said this is a more congenial way. Politely referring to their rules and regulations. He was also barking orders at his houseboys as if they were too incompetent to understand a request.

The owner went back in the afternoon to check on us I suppose, to make sure that we leave at the right time, lest we pay for the extension.

When I saw him standing near the gazebo, I said hello, and told him that I'll be paying my balance. He did not sya a word. So I went to my bag and got my money, and walked up to him again. I said " Magbabayad na po ako." He looked at me and said nothing. So I repeated what I said and reached for the money tucked in my jean pocket, and he said "Oo nga." So much for public relations, huh?

All in all, although I think my Php7000 was well spent on the venue and for the fun that the kids had, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. I think the miscellenous fees they impose is too high and also,
for the simple reason that the owner needs to learn some manners, not only towards his customers, but also to his househelp.

For my son's first birthday, I'll looking for a new venue.

Occupy Wall Street Photos

2011-10-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

Hi!

It has been a while since I've blogged here. Looks like my main problem has been resolved. I can now see the pic icons in my editor, therefore I can post pics! whereas before.... But I think my other blog in this same platform still has this issue. It was the reason why I was forced to abandon ship and head for the shore.

Anyhoo. Occupy Wall Street has been on my mind these past few days or weeks. I only found out about this two weeks ago, way before it got this media mileage locally. Well, after a month of successfully occupying wall street and with thousands of cities worldwide on the receiving end of similar protests, the media couldn't very well ignore now can they?

Here are some adorable pictures I found.

Babes do tell the truth.

For more details on Occupy Wall Street, Click Here.
For Pinoy Weekly articles regarding this movement, go here

Giveaway Alert!

2011-04-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

Hi guys!

May is my birthday month, I'll be thirty then. I'm planning to have a giveaway in celebration of that. The giveaway will be launched this month and will end sometime in May. I still haven't decided on how to go about it.

I'm also having some problems with my blogs. (I can't post pictures!!!!) As much as I want to put up a teaser here, I can't. And just so you know, I'll be blogging from a more reserved venue until I resolve this problem. Enjoy my blog The Mommy Diaries at Yousaytoo.com Please copy-paste this link on your browser to get there: http://adf.ly/13WmE or this one http://adf.ly/10k9p I'll be posting my giveaway mechanics there.

Hint: It has something to do with a product review I will be posting soon. So stay tuned!

Earth Hour Alert!

2011-03-25T20:36:00.003-07:00

My daughter came down with roseola infantum last week. This is more commonly known as tigdas hangin. At first I thought her fever that night is just a sign that she’s coming down with the flu. Her head was hot but her feet and hands weren’t. When she woke up that morning, I asked her if she was feeling any pain in her throat. There was none. I was a good thing that I didn’t let her go to school that day even if her fever had already subsided. I didn’t notice her rashes until around 11 am that day. If she had gone to school, she be sent home anyway.

So there we were at home. I had to deal with her constant nagging that she wants to go out, which of course she can’t. She was bored out of her wits that day. If there’s one good thing about her nagging, it’s that she’s not suffering much from her measles because if she is, she won’t have the energy to put up an hissy fit. She’ll as meek as a lamb.

Okay, this post is supposed to be dedicated to Earth Day. But I just had to tell the story behind it. *laughs*

So my daughter was bored and I’ve forbidden her to play with her baby brother, she just had to settle for solo play. She got out her markers and whiteboard and started drawing this:

Look at her eyes still droopy from being sick.

I can’t remember what we were watching that inspired her to draw this. Gosh, we must have done something right for her to draw this on her own without our prodding!

This March 26, we’ll be participating in Earth Hour from the comforts of our own home. We did this the other year while we were staying at a rather busy district. There were a number of commercial establishments and private homes that turned off their lights but there were also quite a number of those who didn’t. It was sad to see that. Hopefully, this year, the symbolic hour of darkness will be observed by more people.

Remember, turn off your lights at 8:30-9:30 pm.

I'm Wearing My Baby!

2011-03-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

Babywearing is not a new phenomenon in the Philippines. In fact, I've seen many Igorot mothers wear their babies. I think most national minorities practice babywearing, waaay before it became a fad.

A man from the Bontoc tribe

A Kalinga woman

An Aeta mom

Baby wearing has very practical and economical roots. For one, it's very simple. Baby slings and pouches we see and can buy today are simple enough, but the "original" wraps/slings/pouches are even simpler. They are usually just thin blankets, or sarong/indigenous woven cloth wrapped in such a way that baby is kept close to mom's body and secure. For another, you won't need a babysitter if you can carry baby around while doing your chores.

I originally brought my wraparound skirt to the hospital thinking that I can use this to carry my baby around. But it wasn't as easy as it looked on the videos that I've seen. It could also be that my newborn is still too fragile to be worn.

By baby's first month, when he has already doubled his birthweight and craddling him gives me sore muscles, I decided to buy myself a baby sling from RJellybean. Actually, I had a baby pouch made from a pattern a had downloaded online. But the fit wasn't right. I think the measurements are for the westerners who had bigger built. Anyhoo, I did buy a sling online, from Sulit.com, which was slightly used.

The minute I got home from picking up my purchase, I was so excited to try it. I opened the package which still had the original instructional cd, and put it on. I've only tried two positions, considering baby's age, the cradle carry and the tummy-to-tummy.

The cradle carry is something I cannot understand. It looks easy enough on the video, but my baby fusses when I put him in. I'm not too comfortable either because I think I'm squishing my baby. After several failed attempts, I was tempted to put my baby sling on sale out of frustration!

But then I tried the tummy-to-tummy carry one day, and he loved it! He was quiet, content and fell asleep immediately. It was easier for me to do too!

In this photo, he just turned a month old. I was feeling more confident to wear him because his neck muscles have gotten a lot stronger and can hold his head up longer.

I love my sling which gives me the freedom to move around the house with my baby. I love it because it's a simple, no fuss baby accessory. The fabric is breathable too, which is a concern, since we are in a tropical country afterall. I didn't mind that it's in pink even if my baby's a boy. It's me who'll be wearing it, right?

Smiles!

SavingTips for New Moms

2011-03-16T22:49:00.000-07:00

Last time we had a baby, our biggest consideration was our emotional readiness. We were only a few months married and building a family is not on the top of our list at the time. We were still preoccupied with exploring the world as a married couple first. This time however, with the economic crunch and everything, a major consideration is the finances. You have to admit, having a baby is not really light on the budget. Here are some things we did to save on money.

1. Skip the maternity clothes.
You’re only pregnant for nine months. I did not buy maternity clothes AT ALL. Instead I bought stylish oversized tops that can accomodate my growing baby bump. Or you can also skip right into buying nursing tops if you’re planning on breastfeeding your baby. There are also lots of products online that can extend the waistline of your pants, cover your belly, etc. that you can invest in.

2. Have a baby shower.
Drop hints to your friends that you would really appreciate a baby shower. But then again, good friends hardly wait to be told what a friend needs, they anticipate it. And that’s what my friends did. In a post-holiday get together, we gave each other gifts. And they shopped an extra gift for my baby. 

3. Buy secondhand.
Because we had no plans of having another child, everything that our eldest used, like her crib, walker, stroller, clothes and toys, were given away one by one. When we went to the mall to look at some cribs, boy, has the price skyrocketed! A nice big crib that we bought seven years ago at P1500 is now priced at more than P2000! What a difference seven years make! So what I did is surf the online selling sites to look for big ticket items at a much lower rate. True enough, I found a smaller crib (which is fine since he’ll be using it only until he’s big and strong enough to climb out of it – roughly eight months) which is being sold for less than a thousand. The seller is also kind enough to throw in some freebies like a mattress and a whole set of beddings. Another thing that I bought online is a baby sling from R Jellybean for half its original price. Both items were slightly used, but still in very good, functional condition.

4. Don’t be ashamed to ask for and use hand-me-downs.
Since babies grow at a very fast pace, I wasn’t planning on buying him lots of clothes. I asked my friends for their child’s old clothes, especially for newborns. True enough, I got plenty since their babies have already changed their wardrobes.

5. If you really want to buy new ones, buy clothes in bigger sizes.
I suggest buying tie-sides in medium size. Yes, it would look too big on a newborn, but he’ll be swaddled most times anyways so he won’t be cold. But in about two weeks, baby would have filled in with fat. By his first month, he’ll fit perfectly fine into the clothes. Also, buying it a size bigger actually makes dressing a newborn easier since there’s room to maneuver around.

6. Use lampin with disposable diapers.
Since newborns tend to poop a lot, we devised a way of doubling a diaper’s life. We line a new diaper with lampin so that if he poops, we’ll just change the lampin insert and reuse the diaper if it’s not yet full. Just be careful though to check often enough so baby’s skin won’t be soaked in his urine.

7. Newborn diapers vs Small –sized diapers
It does make sense to buy Newborn diapers since newborns are a small lot. But these are pricier than regular sized ones. I think we only used a pack of 12 once and then used the Small. I didn’t notice any difference.

8. Generic vs Branded Diapers Before I gave birth I was spending a lot of time researching on good quality yet affordable diapers. Generic diapers are all over the net and I thought it would be worth a try. But upon closer inspection, their prices really didn’t differ that much from the branded diaper (EQ)I was using, some were even more costly.

9. Use cotton instead of baby wipes At home, I seldom use baby wipes to clean baby after pooping. I use cotton and water.This advice goes two ways actually. Take note that I said cotton, not cotton balls, because premade cotton balls are more costly. If you prefer cotton balls, you can make them yourself from the regular cotton. Also, cotton is obviously more economical than baby wipes.

10. Take your child to the Health Center for regular, ordinary vaccines. The basic vaccines, like BCG, Hepa B etc, cost at least a thousand pesos in a private clinic. These are given for free at health centers. But you can still take your child to a private clinic for special vaccines, like the yearly flu vaccine, the 5-in-1 etc.

Of course this is not to say that I didn’t make any shopping mistake. We’ve bought two cheap manual breast pumps which I rarely use because of its inefficiency. We also bought a couple of those cloth diaper cases from divisoria, which is still too big for my son and which I think would leak because the leg holes are too big and not garterized.

Do you have your own money saving tip? Please do share it. I would love to hear from you.

Safe Cosleeping

2011-03-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Cosleeping is not a new concept, contrary to what most would think. In fact, in the Philippines, it is the norm here, where newborns sleep on the same bed or in the same room as their parents. Yes, sleeping in the same room counts as cosleeping. In western countries, I believe this was introduced only when Dr. Sears started the trend of attatchment parenting, and is only now gaining momentum.

In western countries, babies sleep in the nursery. They have their own rooms which is a luxury most Pinoys can’t afford, hence the cosleeping. Babies are monitored through a device called baby monitor, much like a walkie talkie with the PTT (Press To Talk) always on. When the baby makes a sound, cries, the baby monitor nearby picks this up and then transmits it to the other baby monitor in the parents room.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Pinoys have been cosleeping with their newborns ever since. But that doesn’t mean that we’ve mastered the art of cosleeping. There is no abscence of reports involving sleeping babies. Some can be as tragic as the mom itself suffocating the baby to death.

Here are some tips on how to keep cosleeping safe.

1. Use a cosleeper like this one
which is impractical by the way as baby will outgrow it very quickly. A simple crib with a bassinet will do.

2. If you really want baby to sleep on the same bed with you, a cosleeper like this

is the best option. Otherwise, wise bolster pillows that aren’t too big, define his place.

3. Keep big, fluffy pillows away from baby, as this might accidentally fall on baby and suffocate him.

4. If your bed is placed up against the wall, baby’s safest place would be next to it, effectively reducing a chance of a parent suffocating the newborn.

5. Most importantly, cosleeping, especially with baby in the same bed as yours is not for deep-sleepers or drunkards.

I know my parents coslept with me and my siblings, and I did too with my children, even before I heard of this parenting trend. But honestly, I can’t imagine an arrangement any other way.

Cosleeping they say has very beneficial results over time. Proponents believe that a child whose needs are immediately attended to grows up more emotionally mature than those who are left to sleep alone. I don’t know if this is true. Cosleeping in the Philippines has primarily been for economic purposes only and nothing more.

Extra-Challenge: The >15K Party PART 1 (Venue Hunting)

2011-03-09T20:57:00.000-08:00

I was thinking of writing a couple of articles for my blog about Philhealth and how moms can save money even when they're having a baby, but I got sidetracked by another thing. This May, our eldest will be celebrating her 7th birthday and we were thinking of co-celebrating it with our son's christening. We are working on a very tight budget of 15k, or less, so that means no fancy parties. But we also wanted a hassle-free party, meaning, not one held at home where the after-party clean up is a gigantic endeavour.

I was considering SM Storyland's party package at first. I really think the kids would have fun using the Ride-All-You-Can tickets.

But since our son is still small and most of his guests would be grown-ups, while our daughter is already seven and would really enjoy it if her friends would be invited, the Storyland party would only be enjoyed by the kids, which is a minority.

I also read in a forum thread about Jollibee's Create Your Own Package. I created a package good for 60 people that would cost, more or less, only 10k! But this is only for an hour and I wanted something more than Jollibee-food.

Then, my mom had the wonderful idea of just hiring a private pool and holding the party there. Not a party really, just a very laid back outing with food catered, some nice games for the kids and unlimited videoke for the grown-ups.

One requirement though is that the place should be very accesible, preferably within Quezon City. Here are some very affordable private pools I stumbled upon online.

1. Private Pool in Casa Milan, Fairview
Rental: P3,500 - P5,000
Capacity: 15 pax
Contact Numbers: MS. BETH 09163916759 /09154079231

2. Private Pool of Chayno
OCTAGON VILLAGE, PHASE 3, BRGY DE LA PAZ, PASIG
Capacity: 200 pax
Rental : P8000 - P10,000
Contact Details: 0917-8424581

3. Aguirre Resort in Novaliches
Rental: P7000
Capacity: 50 pax (pero sabi ng isang events organizer, kaya 200 pax)
Contact Details: 4186858

4. Carlos-Suarez Resort in Novaliches
Rental: P6000
Capacity: 50 pax
Contact Details: 9375780/09186402476

5. Boyd's Oasis in Don Antonio
I found their contact details but the landlines are "not in service" and my text message has not yet been replied as if posting.

(UPDATE March 18, 2011, Boyd's Oasis is no more. It has been bought by Puregold.)

6. Nemo Haven
Rental: P4500 - P6500
Capacity: 30 pax
Contact Details: 997-4961/09087800864; email: nemohaven52@yahoo.com

We still haven't finalized which one we're taking. Maybe we'll do it after inquiring at Boyd's since this is the nearest our place.

So far, these are the ones that have met my tipid requirement. Do you know of any other place which can accomodate 50-60 pax and the whole day rental is 8k and below?

Things Your Hospital Bag Should Have

2011-03-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

As with life, having a baby is also full of surprises. Even if the baby is not expected until he completes his term, it wouldn’t hurt to have a hospital bag ready. It should be packed as early as the seventh month especially for those who are having a difficult pregnancy. Here’s a list I compiled of what you should bring to the hospital. This of course is based on the usual Philippine climate which is tropical, and on a 3-4 day stay in the hospital.

FOR THE BABY

2 pairs Long-sleeved tie-sides -- you won't need this much because the baby will be swaddled anyways so he won't be cold, but bring along some, just in case

3-5 pairs Short-sleeved tie-sides -- this I think is the best choice to clothe baby in, not too hot nor too cold. You can hold him even with no blanket on and won't have to worry he'll be cold.

1 flannel blanket -- for extra warmth in case needed.

3 swaddling blankets

2 pairs booties

3 pairs mittens

3 pairs pajamas

5 pcs burp cloths - a good old lampin would suffice

For his toiletries:

70% alcohol - for cleaning his cord stump, and for disinfecting your handscotton

baby wipes - or just just cotton balls and water

baby oil - a warming baby oil is nice, but i prefer the one with lavander essence

baby wash - pick one that has a no-tears formula and very mild.

Don't bother bringing baby powder. Although baby would smell better with powder, it is not encouraged anymore because the baby might inhale the powder's fine particles.

FOR MOMMY

a change of clothes plus extra underwear -- for going home

a nursing top - a hospital gown wasn't designed with breasfeeding moms in mind

your toiletries, especially a feminine wash

your bag which should contain all the necessary stuff like
wallet with money -plastic or real-

plus Identification Cards
prenatal book
health card and other pertinent documents

Maternity pads or overnight heavy duty napkins

abdominal binder - if you're staying in PGH (Philippine General Hospital) I suggest you get
the one being sold by the manangs changing the beddings or mopping the floor. It's made of
cheesecloth and not as bulky as the blue.

These are only the basic stuff you'll be needing. These are what I brought with me to the hospital the last time. If you think I missed something or you have a must-bring that I didn't list here, please do share it by commenting.

Father and Son Picture

2011-03-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

This was taken by my seven year old daughter. Simply beautiful!

She actually takes beautiful pictures. She has an eye for photography, which makes me want to buy her her own toy camera, which are so cute.

Here are some other things she shot using a camera phone:

McDo Kiddie Crew Summer Workshop

2011-03-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

I am thinking of enrolling my seven year old in McDonald's Kiddie Crew Workshop this summer.

The Kiddie Crew Workshop is an annual event that McDonald launches during summer to engage kids ages 6-12 in various activities in their participating outlets.

This aims to teach kids on the value of hardwork, discipline and teamwork through different fun activities. This is also a good opportunity for kids to make new friends.

How to Join

1. Fill out the Application Form available in their participating outlets.

2. Pay the Registration Fee of Php550 which is inclusive of Kiddie Crew t-shirts, cap, bag, I.D with lace, meals, workshop materials and graduation certificate

To know more about this, go to the official McDonald's website.

Get your Child to Eat Veggies

2011-03-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

Children have a natural instinct to avoid vegetables. They seem to have grouped food into two categories, veggies and non-veggies, opting for non-veggies.

In my experience, they are especially inclined to eat eggs and meat. If this is the case, it is up to parents to introrduce their children to vegetables and its benefits.
Our daughter, thank goodness, eats her veggies. Actually, there are times when she likes it more than meat itself. Early on, we made sure that teach her to eat a variety of foods, including but not exclusively of vegetables. Let me share with you a few points we use.

1. Model Parent

Don’t preach and not follow-up on practice. Set an example. Let your child see you enjoying your bowl of veggies. Never let your child hear you say a nasty word about the taste of a vegetable. Never let them see you make face about it either. They imbibe this and file this in their minds for future reference.

2. Fun,Fun,Fun

We encourage our child to eat her veggies by setting up a mock game. We tell her that if she doesn’t eat her veggies now, no more will be left for her. Daddy will gobble it all up, no more tasty veggies for her to munch on. Other times we ask her which color she would like to eat, the green one (papaya or something else) or the orange (squash). Basically, we highlight the vegetable’s color and make it the jump off point.

3. Decisions, Decisions

There are also times we let her decide for herself. We ask her which vegetable she would like to eat, the okra or tha kankong in the sinigang. this tactic never fails. It’s a win-win solution. She eats what she likes, and you made her eat her veggies.

4. Variety

Nobody, even adults, is safe from the sawa factor. To avoid this, we buy a variety of vegetables and cook it in various ways. Careful and thoughtful menu planning comes in. This not only ensures that children are introduced to different vegetables but also balances their nutritional intake.

5. Baby Food vs. Adult Food

Children are often treated as babies. Parents often set a aside a special food for them as opposed to adult food. Adults think that their food is much more complicated than baby food and therefore assume that children wouldn’t like it. So parents, in a bid to be on the “safe side” cook meat viands, or in some cases, allow children to make use of soy sauce, sugar, chocolate powder or even ketchup as ulam. This in fact is a terrible practice. It robs the children of the nutrition they should be getting. Once, we served lumpiang togue with a meat viand, interestingly, our daughter chose to eat the lumpiang togue, completely ignoring the other viand. From then on, we decided that we will serve only adult food, as much as possible. Whatever we’re having, she’s also having.

We can always rant that our children are such picky eaters. We can always blame others for influencing our children’s eating habits. We can always point the finger to grandparents who spoil them to death. But ultimately, we’ve got ourselves to blame.

Parents cannot always underestimate their children’s abilities, including food choices. Considering in other factors, parents still play a majoy role in shaping the child’s outlook on vegetables. It is our responsibility after all to make sure that they are given every opportunity to grow healthy, mentally, emotionally and physically. And good eating habits is just one of the many things that contribute to their bright futures.

Five Easy Steps to Get your Child to Drink his Medicine

2011-03-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I didn’t have a good experience with medicines when I was young. Antibiotics and anti-pyretics didn’t use to taste or smell as wonderfully as they do now. I remember medicine time as a time of endless struggle and bargaining, which usually ends with me losing the battle. How I hated the smell of medicines, especially those bitter, clear cough syrups. I thanked the heavens for pills and tablets which made life easier for me, and my parents, when I came of age.

Recently, we made another trip to the hospital. My four-year old was confined , luckily, only for a day. But of course she had to take some medicines at home to ensure her full recovery. I made sure she won’t hate taking madicines like I did when I was her age. I have to say that there was practically no problem with her drinking her meds. We must have done something right in her training. So, I would like to share with fellow parents the tricks of the trade that we have learned.

1. Pick a fruit. Any Fruit.

Let them pick which flavor they would like to drink. This makes them feel empowered. They don’t feel pushed into drinking something that they don’t like at all. Also it ensures to some extent that your child will offer the least resistance because they actually like the flavor. Nowadays, companies are offering paracetamol and antibiotics for kids that are in very fruity flavors like strawberry, orange, banana, tutti-frutti and others.

2. Juicy Meds

When my daughter was younger, we used to mix her meds with juice of similar taste.

At the tender age of 1 ½, when she contracted pneumonia and almost always ran a fever because of tonsillitis (she drinks very little water ), we used this approach. We let her pick which juice she would like to drink, offering her a choice of either orange or strawberry. Note that these are the most common flavors used in kid’s medicines. We mix her meds with a half a cup of juice. Remember, the aim is to make her think she’s merely drinking juice. Half a cup of juice ensures that the meds don’t taste as strongly AND that the child can drink all of it so she still gets the right dosage.

3. FUN Inc.

My husband and I work as a team, especially when our daughter is sick. We make it a point to lessen her stress over drinking her medicine. To do this, we incorporate various things. Before, when our daughter was still at the Juicy Meds stage, we let her use a drinking straw when she is taking her medicine. We refrain from telling her that she is actually drinking her meds as she obviously would like to pretend that she is only sipping her favorite juice from her favorite character cup. Today that she’s bigger, this has changed of course. She now takes her medicine straight up.

4. Drinking Readiness

We never force our daughter to drink her medicine. We take time to explain to her why she must drink it. When she is still not ready to drink her meds, we tell her it’s okey but that she has to take it after 5 minutes (sometimes, she bargains for 10 minutes). Another way to prepare her, is we tell her what time she is supposed to drink her meds, like before or after breakfast or lunch. This way, we allow her time to come to terms with drinking it at her own pace. When the 5 minutes is up, we encounter no more problems. She drinks her meds peaceably.

5. A star, a hug and a lollipop

There are times when the above barely works, especially when you bought a medicine in a flavor that she hates. This happens rarely to us but when it does, it makes you want to run back to the pharmacy and have the product exchanged for one she would certainly, surely, 100 percent drink. However, we manage to get around this problem using the reward system. To get her to drink her meds, believe it or not, we bargain. She usually wants a lollipop or bubblegum. And we relent to this, only if we secure a promise that she would eat it AFTER drinking her meds. We do this so she won’t throw up after, therefore wasting the medicine and putting her through another grueling episode fo drinking it. You can also give other rewards to your child, like a high-five, a kiss, a hug, a star and many others.

Now, medicine time is a breeze, which leaves her more time to play and explore.

Breastmilk Ice Cream Anyone?

2011-03-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

I just saw a weird article on the internet. Just wanna share it with you! :D Let me know what you think.

Reposted from Only Ice Cream

A specialist ice cream parlour plans to serve up breast milk ice cream and says people should think of it as an organic, free-range treat. The breast milk concoction, called the "Baby Gaga," will be available from Friday at the Icecreamists restaurant in London's Covent Garden.

Icecreamists founder Matt O'Connor was confident his take on the "miracle of motherhood" and priced at a hefty £14 ($22) a serving will go down a treat with the paying public. The breast milk was provided by mothers who answered an advertisement on online mothers' forum Mumsnet. Victoria Hiley, 35, from London was one of 15 women who donated milk to the restaurant after seeing the advert.

Hiley works with women who have problems breast-feeding their babies. She said she believes that if adults realised how tasty breast milk actually is, then new mothers would be more willing to breast-feed their own newborns. "What could be more natural than fresh, free-range mother's milk in an ice cream? And for me it's a recession beater too - what's the harm in using my assets for a bit of extra cash," Hiley said in a statement.

"I tried the product for the first time today - it's very nice, it really melts in the mouth."The Baby Gaga recipe blends breast milk with Madagascan vanilla pods and lemon zest, which is then churned into ice cream.

O'Connor said the Baby Gaga was just one of a dozen radical new flavors at the shop. "Some people will hear about it and go, 'yuck' but actually it's pure, organic, free-range and totally natural," he said. "I had a Baby Gaga just this morning and I feel great."

My Daughter's Journey Towards the Top of Her Class

2011-03-01T17:15:00.001-08:00

Reposted from Kaututang-Dila

My daughter is one very active child. She can go on and on just like the Energizer Bunny as long as people around her give off the same amount of energy that she does. And at seven years old, this hyperactivity can have undesirable effects on her study habits. To work around and with this, I utilize her interest in a wide variety of things to educate her.

She is currently in grade one at a private catholic school. My mother transferred her there after a year in kindergarten in a public school. This I think is one cost-saving measure of middle-income families. Enroll your kid in a public school for kindergarten education which costs considerably less and then transfer them to a private school for elementary. It only cost us about two thousand pesos for her books and notebooks, excluding other expenses like uniforms, which is not mandatory in public schools.

Having high expectations of my daughter and wanting to provide her with quality education, I wanted her to take an exam in UP Integrated School, but she didn’t reach the age cut-off yet. UPIS is accepting only kids that would be 5.5 by school opening. My daughter will only turn five that summer. Fearing that she will be late in entering school, I enrolled her in the kindergarten program of a public school near our home. This I think would be dual in purpose. For one she would be learning the basic skills needed for the big school and for another, this would help her have an advantage over the other kids taking the UPIS qualifying exam next year because she has already attended school.

First day of school

I was away during the greater part of her kindergarten years. It was my mom who stood as her guardian and attended the school activities in my place. She was so happy with my daughter because she always brings home a star, stamped on her hand. Her exam papers were also very high. Most of them were perfect and with “Very Good!” remarks written in her teacher’s legible handwriting. By the end of school year, they were informed that my daughter is among those who would receive a silver medal. That was a happy day!

My daughter in one of their school activities

Another "Very Good!"

But it was shortlived. After graduation, my mom found out that my daughter still couldn’t read and can barely write her own name right. How could this have happened if my daughter received a silver medal on her graduation, symbolizing in the least, that she has learned the basic stuff of A-BA-KA-DA reading and writing her own name completely, if not excelled in the class? We were disappointed. Please, understand, that this is blog is in no way written to put down public schools per se. I am only sharing what happened to my daughter.

That summer, my mom decided to move her to the private school she is attending now. The guidance counsellor who administered the entrance exam told my mom that my daughter had difficulty answering the questions. She even found the Alphabet confusing! To make the long story short, she passed the entrance but only with great difficulty.

This year, I had limited out-of town engagements, so I was able to personally monitor her progress. I am not really a strict mom when it comes to her study habits. I do not force her to study when she is not in the mood to do so because I think that would only be futile. But I do take advantage of the times when she is more than ready to listen and study her lessons.

As part of her learning experience, we take her to libraries, particularly The Children’s Library, where there are lots of activities for kids. There she can play with educational games on the computer, browse various books, listen to a storytelling and interact with other kids.

I am also quite lenient when she asks us to buy her a book. As long as the book has a good theme, fits her age and learning requirements, and is reasonably priced, I buy it for her.

I also encourage her to utilize the internet for her learning needs. There are lots of educational sites that provide online exercises on reading and activity sheets for free.

During the first quarter of the schoolyear, she pulled a decent average of 83%. Although we are still struggling with her reading in Filipino, her highest grades were in math and science, while the lowest were in religion and english.

The english language is her waterloo, I must say. She is having trouble with phonetics, interchanging it with how the Filipino language is written and read. Her grade in religion is not a surprise either. I am not an active Catholic and she only has the her formal class in school to teach her this. But the math and science, I must say, surprised me. She must have taken after her dad, who is more analytically inclined.

By the start of second grading, she has already mastered reading in Filipino and is excited to be finally able to. “Ang sarap palang magbasa!”, she exclaimed. I was happy too, for that meant that the books she keeps on asking us to read to her she can already read by herself.

She is also showing a keen interest in science and math, more than in any other subject. She loves watching the science videos in Encarta, especially the one about the migrating salmons. I also bought her a visual encyclopedia at a bargain price of Php 100 in a bookstore sale! It wasn’t the latest edition of course, it was already a year behind, but I thought, she could still learn a lot from it.

Watching her Encarta science videos

Her studies though are not limited to academics only. I also encourage in the arts. She loves to sing and dance and to draw stuff too! My mom gave her a homemade sketchpad, made up of regular bond paper pasted together, for her to draw in. She also likes to dabble in watercoloring and clay sculpting.

One of her artistic endeavours

Last October she joined in a drawing competition sponsored by the Citizens Disaster Response Center. It was open for children aged 6-12 and had two categories. She joined Category A and drew about earthquakes. I am mighty proud of her because she did the drawing all by herself, from the concept until the execution. She didn’t place as a major winner in her category but she did land as one of the finalists, one for each of the twelve disaster in their catergory. She is the contest’s youngest winner!

My daughter is the first one from left, the smallest one, with her winning "obra maestra".
Oh, and yes! The one in far right is Maverick Legaspi. :)

Her obra maestra that will be showcased in CDRC's 2011 calendar

Now for the entire second grading, although her english plunged by 4 points her science shot up 7 points! Overall, her average went up from 83% to 84%. It wasn’t bad, not bad at all.

All these time, one thing that I ensure is that she studies only when she is ready to, at her own pace and time. I am never one to force someone into doing something they are not ready or do not want to do. That has not been my attitude towards by study and towards life itself, so I take care to teach this to my daughter too.

Doing her homework while I work in the kitchen.

This week, from December 12-16, is their third grading examination. I am confident that she will do better this time. She is not exactly at the top of her class (yet!) but she has surely come a very long way

What to do if your NB has Sticky Eyes

2011-03-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

A few hours after our baby was brought to us from the nursery, we noticed that his right eye seems to secrete more mucous that his left. We thought nothing of it, just the normal "muta" any baby would have especially after crying. After a couple of days, it seemed to worsen. He could barely open his right eye, the lashes clamped together by the sticky mucous. He has the Case of the Sticky Eyes.

The baby doesn't seem bothered by it, but I am of course. I consulted a book for common illnesses in babies and children. That's how I knew that it's the sticky eyes and that it was a normal condition for babies, especially newborns.

What to do?

1. Clean the area with sterile water and cotton balls. Wipe it away gently. Some advice to use sterile salt water, like the ones used for cleaning contact lenses, others say cooled boild water is enough. I used the cooled boiled water.

The secretions are very sticky indeed, so you might need to wipe the eye area two or three times. I usually do this during bathtimes. In between it, I try to wipe away the mucus as soon as I see it.

2. Keep his blanket/ wipe cloth exclusively his. Just for hygiene purposes.

3. If the other eye becomes infected too, or the infected eye worsens over time, see your doctor.

My baby's sticky eyes resolved by itself by his third week, without any need for medication, just constant cleaning.

Sunbathing for Strong Bones

2011-02-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

Hubby and baby

It’s usual for us to see newborns sunbathing in the early morning sun. The scene is very picturesque indeed. Mother and child bathed in the soft light of the sun.Ok, it's Father and child. : )

I never really thought much about this. I actually took this for granted.

However, the last time we went to the pedia, she commented that my baby boy is looking yellowish. My boy was two weeks old then. The pedia took him from me and even went outside the her clinic to better see if my boy is indeed yellow. She said my baby is jaundiced.

This alarmed me of course. Jaundice, or the yellowish tint of the skin, results from an impaired liver. And my baby just had his Hepa B vaccine when he was born.

The pedia asked if we regularly sunbathe the child. To this I have to answer truthfully. We’ve been remiss during the past week. We live in a busy street and I still haven’t gotten much sleep. So I prefer to sleep in and rationalize that it was better than being exposed to all the pollution. Bad idea.

Babies, I was told, have a condition called physiological jaundice. I guess this means that they turn yellow easily. I researched this on Encarta and according to it “Newborns can also be jaundiced as a consequence of the condition known as hyperbilirubinemia. In these cases, there is a temporary defect in synthesis of the enzyme that breaks down bile to an excretable form.”

But although, it is medically proven that sunlight is good even for newborns, exposure to it should be kept at a minimum. The best time to sunbathe a newborn is between 7am and 8am, for not longer than 30 minutes. For us, we start sunbathing around 6:45 am until 7:30, when I find the sunlight already painful on the skin.

Two weeks after, my boys skin color, especially in his face, has significantly improved. The whites of his eyes have also cleared.

I think my boy likes sunbathing too. The warm sun on his skin makes him drowsy. He has never been awake during those times and is always peacefully at sleep.

Got milk? notes from a new nursing mom

2011-02-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

My baby is now three weeks old and is exclusively breasfed. I’m a nursing mom!

Last Saturday though, I had a panic attack and asked for a prescription for a formula milk. From four am until nine in the morning that day, my milk has dried up. My baby was hoarse from crying and falls asleep only from exhaustion. Everytime I let him nurse, I would let my breast go and looked like he would throw up for sucking nothing. I pitied him so much that I went to a pedia to ask for a good formula milk.

We got to the clinic at around 9:30 in the morning and had to wait for an hour for the pedia. She was thirty minutes late her clinic hours. By the time she got there, I’ve got milk already!!! And eversince, the milk floweth. Now, I feel satisfaction whenever I hear my baby gulp down his milk and I see milk overflowing from his little babe mouth, trickling down his chin.

We still bought a small pack of formula milk, (which has remained unopened). I know, a mortal sin for all those starting to breastfeed. We also bought a breastpump to aid in stimulating milk production.

******

I now understand why the first few hours and days are the most crucial to any mom starting to breastfeed. I nearly quit within thefirst 24 hours because I thought I was starving my two day old baby. I almost quit because of my sore nipple and the fear of “wearing out” my other nipple. And last Saturday I almost quit because my milk “dried up”.

That first 24 hours of breastfeeding, we were still in the hospital. Nurses were coming and going round the clock. The were always asking whether the baby has pooped or peed, and how many times if so. I always tell them the same thing, the baby pooped only once and it wasn’t much. They all just nod their heads as if it’s the most natural thing. So I guess that’s ok.

When the pedia came in the next day, I asked her what I should do because I think I don’t have enough milk. I was hinting on a formula recommendation, but didn’t receive any. All said was, “That’s ok. It’ll increase over time, as his demand increases

After a few days, when I have gotten used to the sleepless nights, I read in Babymama.ph that a sign that baby is feeding well is the yellow, seedy poop which is exactly what my baby has! Alright! :D

Cephalopelvic Disproportion

2011-02-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

For the second time, I gave birth via Caesarian Section. My doctor says I have a medical condition called CPD or Cephalopelvic Disproportion. This was diagnosed the first time last 2004.

Back then we were gearing for a normal delivery. A week before my scheduled induction, I was only 1 cm dilated. It stayed that way until the date of my induction. During those hours that I was IVed and being induced, there was no sign of visible labor. My tummy wasn’t aching at all, although the baby is pretty active inside me. I was in the Labor Room for a good 24 hours without any progress. All around me, mothers in various stages in labor and making all kinds of noises because of the pain. I was wondering when I’ll experience that kind of backbreaking pain they were all going through. I watched them being wheeled in and out of the Labor Room.

After 12 hours of induction and zero progress in the dilaation department, my OB IEd me and twisted her fingers to force open my cervix. I was officially 2 cm dialted after that. But that’s it.

They sent me back to my room after 24 hours of induction to let the baby rest. Apparently, the induction can only be done for 24 hours. After that, the baby is at risk of suffering from fetal distress. At around 6am the following morning, I was again wheeled into the Labor Room for another go at induction.

At around 10 in the morning, the resident doctors decided to call in my OB and had me set-up for an emergency CS. The baby’s heartbeat has been on-and-off in their monitors.
The baby came out ok, she just changed positions.

This time, my OB advised that we do a repeat CS since a trial normal delivery has already been done before to no avail.

So what is CPD?

Cephalopelvic Disproportion is a condition where the baby’s head is bigger than mom’s pelvis. True CPD is rare, but accounts of “failure to progress” is also diagnosed as CPD. (This is my case, in my two pregnancies, I’ve never known labor pains)

What causes CPD?

It can be caused by:
- a large baby due to hereditary factors, diabetes, postmaturity or mulitparity
- abnormal fetal position
- small pelvis
- abnormally shaped pelvis

Does this mean that once diagnosed with CPD, women can only give birth through CS? No. Although it would be more convenient to just schedule a caesarean section, those diagnosed with CPD during prior pregnancies can still undergo VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean section). Citing a study by the American Journal of Public Health, “over 65 % of women who had been diagnosed with CPD in previous pregnancies, were able to deliver vaginally in subsequent pregnancies.”

In my case, maybe I can still give birth vaginally the next time. IF ever we decide to have another baby. IF.

Philippine General Hospital

2011-02-04T01:41:00.001-08:00

A week ago I gave birth to a healthy and handsome baby boy. And I’ve been itching to go online and blog about it for the longest time but I just just find the time nor the energy to do it, until now. After a week of sleep-deprived nights, my body is finally adjusting to the rigors of a nursing mom to a newborn. It also helps that my hubby is in full support-mode and has been doing the household chores that I can’t and shouldn’t be doing still.

I gave birth in Manila, at the Ospital Heneral ng Pilipinas (that’s Philppine Genral Hospital to you! :D) . We picked this hospital mainly for financial reasons. It is still the cheapest hospital that offers high-quality hospital care. It may look dilapidated and old, but the best doctors are still here. This is also where I gave birth last time, six years ago, to our daughter.

When we trooped to the patient admission area, we immediately noticed that they had the area renovated. It is now airconditioned and the seats are new. The officers in charge of admission now also sit behind a glass wall instead of the open table they used to occupy before. The line wasn’t really long but we did spend more or less an hour before being shown our room. They had the number system to attend to the patients in an orderly fashion, but they also entertained various inquiries which I think sidetracks them for a while.

They also gave all admitted patients a hospital kit which contained:

a digital thermometer
a bottle of povidone-iodine
a bottle of alcohol
cotton
a roll of gauze bandage
a roll of micropore tape
a decent pair of utensils –spoon and fork (not included in picture)
a small tabo
a plastic measuring cup
a small measuring cup (the one used to measure liquid medicines with)
the PGH blue card
the watcher’s ID
the hospital tag
and a vacuum-packed pillow

We were excited to be getting these! Last time we were here, we got nothing. Just the blue card and the hospital tag. It felt like being admitted into a private hospital!

A sad note though is that just like private hospitals, the PGH is also implementing the deposit-system now. Last time, we were just admitted into the hospital, presenting the admitting orders of my doctor and gave nothing else, no deposits whatsoever. And the deposits are also based on the room that you’re getting. For us who asked to be booked into the Pay Ward, we paid P5, +++ (more than five thousand pesos). For those getting a small private room, the rate would actually reach more than nine thousand pesos!

We opted for the Pay Ward to minimize costs. We’ll still be attended to by our doctors, not be subject to the prodding of medical students, but for a lower cost. Last time they Pay Ward I was booked in had 8 beds in all. This time, there were only seven of us. It was also air-conditioned and had a decent Comfort Room where patients and their bantay can take a bath in.

Luckily we were placed in the bed by the windows, next to the air-conditioning. The night I was admitted, we thought we’d freeze to death, but it was the opposite. Since the lay-out is quite funny, with half of the room obviously colder than the other half whose air-conditioning is being blocked by a wall, some bantay would lower the temperature down. During the day too, when the sun is beating down on our side, being near the air conditioning made it nice actually. J

What I discovered that night though was more than the superficial renovations of PGH, I also was surprised that I was subject to a different preparatory steps this time. I don’t know if its because I’m scheduled for a caesarian section, instead of the ordinary “giving birth” tag. I’ll write about this next time.

*I seem to have a problem uploading pictures. I'll upload some next time. I promise!

*Feb. 6 -- just uploaded a picture. :D