Mom Kat's Notes

Letter to Hendrix on his 1st Birthday

2013-03-30T16:05:00.000+08:00

March 15, 2013

My Dearest Baby Hendrix,

As the clock strikes twelve on March 15, 2013, I look at you with tears in my eyes, and greatfulness in my heart. Finally, it’s your first birthday my son! Words cannot express how happy I am. I’ve longed prayed for and waited for this day, and several times I feared that it will never happen. I look at you now very at peace while you sleep when exactly a year ago I am not even sure if I will have the chance to see you. I still remember so vividly when you came out, I did not get the chance to hold you or even look at you because you have to be immediately taken to NICU. But I heard you cry; a loud one, which seems to tell me “Mommy, I’m gonna be fine. I’ll see you soon.” The next few days was a daze with regular updates from your doctors; all of them asking us to pray hard. The next few days I pushed myself to get better so that I will be able to see you inside NICU. I was so determined to be with you but Dad wanted me to wait. I could not understand and I found it unfair for he can see you everyday and talk to you while I’m only allowed to see you by the window in which the view is not very near. Dad tried to delay me seeing you but when the day came when he could not stop me anymore, I excitedly walked inside NICU for the first time eager to see you. And when I saw you, that was when I knew why Dad wanted me to be strong enough for our first meeting. He knew my mother’s heart will melt. You were so small; tiny and very fragile, and with tubes and line on your arms, legs and mouth, Your hand can barely hold my thumb. I was heartbroken. That was not what I intend for you to be on your first few days of life. My tears shed and I whispered to you how sorry I am. I closed my eyes several times hoping to realize that I was just in a dream. But when I opened my eyes, I am still in NICU and you are still there inside the incubator surrounded by machines. On my way out, your doctor, Dra. Uy, consoled us and said that you’re fighting to survive and that’s what you’ve done the past 365 days; fight your way to reach this day. After 3.5 months in NICU, 3 hospitalizations thereafter, two of which are in PICU, I am so proud and thankful of how you’ve fought your way thru life. You are our miracle baby, a living proof that nothing is impossible with prayer. For the past year, Dad and I remember March 15 as a day of uncertainty, worry, and fear. Today, you change all that. Now we can already see March 15 as a joyous day; a day of celebration. I pray that it will be a fresh start for you. I know everyday is not easy for you, anak. With what some babies can do so easily, you have to work ten times as hard. But I want you to know how proud I am of you. It was a roller coaster ride the past year with some ups and and several downs but I can see how hard you are trying to keep up with everything. I wish I can make things easier and simple for you, my son. I may not show it to you but my heart breaks whenever you're having a hard time eating or when you cry because you’re having a hard time in therapy. But please know that everything that we are doing now, all these therapy and weekly doctors' appointments are for your own good. It is not every day that I am a strong mom. There are times that I get weak, both emotionally and spiritually, especially when I see you having a hard time. Several times I almost asked God why He is allowing you to go through so much difficulty. But everytime I reach that point, there will be reminders of your past; an urge to look at your photos on your first day of life, a sudden message from someone telling me to hang on or just you smiling or laughing while looking at me; these things I believe are God’s way of reminding me of how far you’ve come. God could’ve taken you from us on several occasions, but He did not. He allowed you to survive, and with that I must trust in His grand plan for you. I know I have no right to question God because He gave me what I beg from Him upon your birth, and that is for you to be with us. I know that God entrusted you to us because He knows that we can take care of you, and that is what Dad and I intends to do for the rest of our lives.

Hendrix, on your first birthday, Dad and I only have the highest hopes and dreams for you. My constant prayer is for you to be always healthy and happy. Dad and I promise that we will give you the best quality of life possible for you . May God continue to give you strength especially now that we are catching up on what might have still be developed during the 3 more months that you should’ve been inside my tummy. I also hope that by the time you are old enough to understand everything that is going around you, we’re all ready past all the therapy and constant doctors appointments. I want you to look forward to weekends as family time; wherein you, Dad, Kuya and I are going places having a good time. Hendrix, I pray that one day you will be able to read this and know just how much we love you and how thankful we are that you here with us now. We are past the “one day a time” period. Now, we are taking it one year at time. We have one major hurdle this year but im hopeful that you will be able to get through it. Thank you for being so strong and so brave. You may not say it but I know you love us too by the way you look at us. Happy, happy first birthday my son. Always know that there are so many of us who loves you and who is inspired by you. We will forever be proud of you my baby bunso. I love you so much.

Love,

Mommy

Letter to Heinel on his 5th

2013-02-18T02:09:00.000+08:00

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been five years since you came into our lives. Happy 5^th birthday Heinel! You’re growing up so fast, faster than I’ll ever be ready. But each year you’re becoming more intelligent, more confident and most of all more handsome. Dad and I are so blessed to have such a very good boy. As much as I want you to be my baby, everyday you remind me that you’re a big boy and that there is so much you can already do on your own. Dad often tells me that I should let you try new things and not overprotect you, but despite you being already almost as tall as me, I still feel that you’re my baby. My everyday prayer is for the Lord to guide me in parenting you; that he may lead me to the right decisions as I guide your way into life. Looking at you now, I’m thankful that the Lord is constantly answering me prayer. I could not be prouder of how you’re turning out to be. I want you to know that you make me so happy, not by the things that you do or do not do, or the words that say or do not say, but by just simply being in my life.

Heinel, I know the past year had been very overwhelming for you. For 4 years you were an only child and the apple of the eye of not just me and Dad, but also all your grandparents and Titos and Titas. Now, you have to share all the love with your cousins Sari and Joshua and of course your baby brother Hendrix. I know these changes had been very overwhelming but I’m so proud of how you are handling it. You’re taking everything maturely and with so much love and understanding and for that I’m so thankful to you, Anak. Thank you for warmly accepting your cousins in your life. And best of all, thank you for giving so much love, understanding and patience to baby Hendrix. Thank you for being a patient companion to Hendrix during his checkups. Thank you for encouraging and cheering him on whenever he’s having a hard time in therapy. Thank you for always reminding Hendrix to finish his milk and meals and by finishing yours too so he will follow you. Hendrix may not say it yet, but he loves you and adores you. He looks at you with so much admiration and amazement. There was even a time when the only person that can make him smile is you. Thank you for being the best brother to him. Hendrix so blessed to have you as his big Kuya.

But this appreciation comes with an apology. For because you have handled everything so well, there are times when Dad and I expect so much from you but often times forget that despite being intelligent and understsnding beyond your years, you are still our little pre-schooler who gets confused, sad, overwhelmed and most of the time just plain misses Mommy and Dad. For those moments when we were not with you as often as we used to, Heinel, Dad and I would like to say sorry. We can’t promise that things will be easier this coming year but what we can promise is that whatever the situation is, we will try to explain it to you and make it bearable for you.

On your birthday, all I can wish is for you to always be happy and healthy. Continue being a good boy, not just to me and Dad but to everyone around you. Always remember that there are so many of us who love you, Anak. I pray that you will achieve all your dreams. Dad and I will support you and do everything in our strength and capacity to help you reach for your star. I’m confident that you will reach your goal of driving an Audi, a Ferrari and a Porsche when you grow up! Just keep in mind what Dad and I always tell you and that is to study well and pray hard. With those two, nothing is impossible.

Happy birthday once again Heinel! I hope you enjoy your day. It will be a Hotwheel themed party in school later and I know you will have a blast! I love you so much Heinel. Please remember that I will always love you and be proud of you.

Love,

Mommy

BOOK REVIEW: Desperate: Hope for the Mom who needs to Breathe

2013-01-07T21:06:00.003+08:00

Motherhood is such a big responsibility, a calling. The journey is rewarding but also challenging. It requires a lot of love, patience, time and strength . Yes, strength not just in physical aspect but more importantly emotionally and spiritually. At some point a mom will get overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and expectations. If not guided, an overwhelmed mother will result to an angry and unhappy one which will also affect her home.

Desperate: Hope for the Mom who needs to Breathe is a book written by two friends who experienced their own challenges as moms.The book mostly discuss the issues of a stay at home mom but a working mom like me can still very much relate. The frustrations, fears and disappointments of moms are common, whether stay at home or working. The authors, Sarah Mae and Sally shares their own struggles and how they were able to cope with it. Each chapter begins with Sarah Mae writing to Sally and sharing her parenting struggles. Sarah Mae is very relatable. She writes her experiences and makes me feel like we are going thru the same struggles. Sally, on the other hand, is a mentor every mom wishes to have. Shes is caring, inspiring and uplifting. Her words of wisdom came from years of experience taking care of her now adult children. Her experiences led her to the Lord’s path. She is a true testatement that if one totally lifts their lives and their family to God, things will fall into place.

The book talks about the challenges of moms such as dealing with housework, disappointments in disciplining children, handling stress and depression, all in the Christian way. I would not call myself a very religious person but I was able to relate and it even helped me deal with my personal issues as a mom. A personal favorite part of the book is the YOUR TURN portion. It gives a deeper reflection of what was discussed and gives mothers the chance to reflect on their own situations.

Personally, this book has an impact on me. The book came to my life when I’m at my lowest as a mom when my second born baby is very sick. Reading the book, I was able to relate to the feeling of being tired most of the time, being angry, confused, and doubting myself. The book made me realize several things: (1) that I am like just most moms who are expecting myself to be perfect (2) that moms need to find time for themselves and should not feel guilty about it (3) having a family that is centered in the Lord is the most effective parenting formula. The book allowed me to personally reflect on myself and analyze myself as a mom. Thru it, I was able to accept certain realities of my life. I was able to identify the cause of my frustrations and even anger. The realization and acceptance led to a change in my outlook in life, in my faith.

This book I believe should be in every mom’s shelf, especially, moms of young children. When things get too much to handle, one can open this book and feel that she has found friends in Sarah Mae and Sally.

Below are some of my favorite lines from the book

A happy mom who is secure in herself and at ease in her life is a rare gift that children love and appreciate.
Determine for yourself what you hope to be the outcome of your family. What legacies do you want to leave for your children?
I want to be a safe place for my children. I want them to see that my arms are open and I love them no matter what they do.
We cannot be successful as moms alone, no matter how hard we try. But God with us is more than enough to build a wonderful legacy and influence.
When all else seems hopeless, and yet I still turn to hope, it brings great honor to God and renders Satan utterly powerless.
Happy mom is a real gift to her children. When we quiet our souls before Him and close off those outside sounds, we can once again hear His words, and be led by Him in goodness and truth.
What a mother is called to be: a warrior who will not give up or cease to keep fighting the battle for her children’s souls.

Our Different Christmas

2012-12-27T12:43:00.001+08:00

As early as September, I've been planning how our Christmas will be. I am more excited this year, since it will be our second born's first Christmas. I had my Christmas shopping completed early and even planned outfits for everybody. Excitement was an understatement. I was ecstatic!
But fate has its ways of surprising you and totally taking you off course. 8 days before Christmas, our little baby was confined at the Pediatric ICU (PICU) because of broncho pneumonia; his second pneumonia confinement for the year (the other one was just last September). What we thought was just a day or two stay at the hospital turned out to be a ten day (and counting) confinement. His pneumonia is more difficult and more challenging than the previous one. And because his condition is not anywhere near good, his doctors confirmed to us that he will have to spend his very first christmas in the hospital.

Upon hearing the confirmation, I shed tears of sadness for our family. We ought to be together at home on Christmas day. With everything that our baby went thru this year, he deserves to be with his family on Christmas day, and the realization that it will not happen this year really broke my heart. To make things even more challenging for us, our baby had his two most terrifying asthma attacks on Christmas eve and Christmas day. I was beyond scared. I was shaken.

With our baby's condition, many would ask, how can there be Christmas? As much as our situation is difficult, the whole experience humbled me. I felt that it allowed me to see the real essence of the season. Because when times are hard, all the glitz and glamour of the Yuletide season is shed. Gifts became less of a priority, grand festivities are no longer necessary. Things became simple and only the very important aspects of Christmas are left, and that is love, family, faith and most of all Jesus Christ. Christmas is not about us, it is about Him. Christmas day is all about Jesus Christ. It is a celebration of His life and what it stands for to save us. We celebrate because we honor and we love Him; despite the situation that we are in.

Despite the difficult challenge our family faced this year, yes Christmas was very much celebrated. Different, yes it is, but definitely more meaningful. I am still greatful to the Lord because we have our sons with us; we have our families; we have each other. We are still blessed.

LEGO @ Shell!

2012-11-09T05:04:00.002+08:00

I grew up surrounded by Lego® because my brother has several models. It is a great toy as it improves hand eye coordination especially for younger kids and broades imagination as well. My firstborn son is also becoming very fond of these cute blocks. However, his interests is more on car models which is why Lego® is not his favorite toy yet.

But Shell Philippines came up with this wonderful promotion wherein you can buy a Lego® Ferrari model for every purchase of gas! Very affordable! How cool is that?!

www.shell.com.ph

The toys are such a great hit for my son! He loves it! It is also a great family bonding because we love creating each car together! I also love how my son interchanges the blocks and creates his own car model!

I don't know how long this promotion will lasts but we sure are hoping we can complete all models!

Our first two models

Cloth Diaper Review

2012-11-04T10:20:00.000+08:00

My son has sensitive skin and he tends to get really nasty diaper rash from wearing disposable diapers. This is the main reason why I decided to switch to cloth diapers. Later, I found out that aside from protecting my baby's skin, it is also very earth friendly and saves me money from buying expensive disposable diapers weekly!
Gone are the days when cloth diapers are merely "lampins" (gauze cloth diapers) (but my son still uses this at home at times) which can be very irritating for the baby because it can only last one wetting. Nowadays there are several cloth diapers in the market which can lasts as long as disposable diapers.
I admit, I got so addicted buying these cute one size cloth diapers! I tried several brands to find out the best one for my baby. Let me share with you my personal review of the ones we've tried:

Alva Baby

Thumbs up

www.alvababy.com

Of all l the brands I've tried, Alva has the most number of cute designs to choose from for boys and for girls. You can choose one depending on you and your baby’s mood!
Alva is also cheaper than most brands. Here in the Philippines, it costs around P299-P300 per piece .
Alva is also not that bulky, thus more convenient for baby

Thumb down: Alva's inner lining is not that absorbent. After 2-3 wettings, I can already smell and feel that my baby’s diaper is wet. It can only lasts about 2-3 hours only.

Next9 and Baby Leaf

www.spudnsquishy.tumblr.com

These are two different brands but products are so much alike.

Thumbs up:

Both brands' Inner linings are made of cotton amd thus, very absorbent. It can lasts up to five hours unless there is poop. But for hygienic purposes i only let my son use it for a maximum of four hours or less.
Both brands are also ffordable. Price is P350 per diaper

Thumbs down:

Both diapers are bulky especially for newborns. But as they grow, the diaper will fit them more comfortably.

www.charliebanana.com

Charlie Banana

Thumbs up:
Charlie Banana's inner lining is made of cotton and very absorbent.
Although a one-size diaper, it is not as bulky as Next9 or Babyleaf.

Thumbs down:

Charlie Banana is more expensive than most brands. Price is between P1,000-P1,200 ($24-29$) per diaper.

Personal Note:
My son use all these brands. At home, he uses his Alva diapers since it is more convenient to change diapers in between. Then at night, he uses his Next9 and BabyLeaf and since it is more absorbent, he gets a good night’s sleep. For days when he has to go out for checkups, he uses his Charlie Banana diapers so it will not be bulky when worn with those cute pants or shorts.

Finding the right brand will all depend on your baby’s needs and of course your budget. But if you will buy one, the best ones are the one-size diapers so your baby can use it as he grows. It can be expensive at first as you are building your stock but once you have collected an acceptable number, you will no longer need to buy disposable diapers and thus savings begins. Happy cloth diapering!

Improving my Preemie's feeding

2012-09-02T12:28:00.000+08:00

With two months already at home with us, our main goal for our preemie baby is to gain weight and be able to catch up with those of 2 1/2 month old babies (his corrected age group). Now how do I know that my baby is getting enough milk?

Baby Center.com says that if an infant is taking pure formula milk, the rule of thumb is to offer him 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. So if a baby, weighs 7lbs, he should drink a total of 17.5oz of milk in 24 hours. For breastfed babies, KellyMom says that exclusively breastfed babies take in an average of 25 oz (750 mL) per day between the ages of 1 month and 6 months. Different babies take in different amounts of milk; a typical range of milk intakes is 19-30 oz per day (570-900 mL per day). Moms can also check out the bottle equivalent thru their website for the milk calculator. Based on my sample computation, a 7lb baby who takes in milk 8 times a day has to take in an average of 15.8oz a day with 2 to 2.2ozs per feeding.

My son is on mixed feeding, but either on formula or breastmilk, he does not meet his average requirement as computed thru the sites mentione above. The problem lies on two factors: he sleeps a lot the whole day, approximately 16-18 hours and his sucking reflexes are not very strong.

Since sleeping is something that we can not control, we (us parents and his neonatologist), decided to address his sucking reflexes concern. Small frequent feedings are a necessity and if he needs to be woken up from a good sleep, then so be it. His occupational therapist, Professor Cynthia Isaac, also suggested two sets of pressing exercises that aims to improve his sucking reflexes. One set is to be done once a day, and the other is set to be done 30 minutes prior to feeding. I will post a video of it once I got an approval from her.

Another helpful way to feed him when he's too sleepy is to use a 1ml dropper. We only use a dropper to finish off a 2oz bottled milk and to avoid spoilage, especially when what is being given is breastmilk.

These techniques proved to be very helpful, as my baby's feeding already improved. He's closed to achieving his minimum requirement.
Photo Credits: ehow.com

Recommended Sleeping Hours for Children

2012-08-27T20:32:00.000+08:00

My newborn son is still a heavy sleeper despite being 2.5 months in corrected age. It got me thinking if this is still in tune with his age. I browse thru the internet and found the following article from WebMd.com which I would like to share with fellow moms. This can be our guide in assessing if our kids are getting enough sleep for their age.

1-4 Weeks Old: 15 - 16 hours per day
Newborns typically sleep about 15 to 18 hours a day, but only in short periods of two to four hours. Premature babies may sleep longer and colicky ones shorter.
Since newborns do not yet have an internal biological clock, or circadian rhythm, their sleep patterns are not related to the daylight and nighttime cycles. In fact, they tend not to have much of a pattern at all.

1-4 Months Old: 14 - 15 hours per day
By 6 weeks of age your baby is beginning to settle down a bit, and you may notice more regular sleep patterns emerging. The longest periods of sleep run four to six hours and now tends to occur more regularly in the evening. Day-night confusion ends.

4-12 Months Old: 14 - 15 hours per day
While up to 15 hours is ideal, most infants up to 11 months old get only about 12 hours sleep. Establishing healthy sleep habits is a primary goal during this period, as your baby is now much more social, and his sleep patterns are more adult-like.
Babies typically have three naps and drop to two at around 6 months old, at which time (or earlier) they are physically capable of sleeping through the night. Establishing regular naps generally happens at the latter part of this time frame, as his biological rhythms mature. The midmorning nap usually starts at 9 a.m. and lasts about an hour. The early afternoon nap starts between noon and 2 p.m. and lasts an hour or two. And the late afternoon nap may start from 3 to 5 p.m. and is variable in duration.

1-3 Years Old: 12 - 14 hours per day
As your child moves past the first year toward 18-21 months of age he will likely lose his morning nap and nap only once a day. While toddlers need up to 14 hours a day of sleep, they typically get only about 10.
Most children from about 21 to 36 months of age still need one nap a day, which may range from one to three and a half hours long. They typically go to bed between 7 and 9 p.m. and wake up between 6 and 8 a.m.

3-6 Years Old: 10 - 12 hours per day
Children at this age typically go to bed between 7 and 9 p.m. and wake up around 6 and 8 a.m., just as they did when they were younger. At 3, most children are still napping, while at 5, most are not. Naps gradually become shorter as well. New sleep problems do not usually develop after 3 years of age.

7-12 Years Old: 10 - 11 hours per day
At these ages, with social, school, and family activities, bedtimes gradually become later and later, with most 12-years-olds going to bed at about 9 p.m. There is still a wide range of bedtimes, from 7:30 to 10 p.m., as well as total sleep times, from 9 to 12 hours, although the average is only about 9 hours.

12-18 Years Old: 8 - 9 hours per day
Sleep needs remain just as vital to health and well-being for teenagers as when they were younger. It turns out that many teenagers actually may need more sleep than in previous years. Now, however, social pressures conspire against getting the proper amount and quality of sleep.

Am I Ready to be a Parent Again?

2012-08-03T11:50:00.002+08:00

This was the question that evaded my thoughts when hubby and I decided that it is time to reward our son with a sibling. I do not know if other moms also go through the same fear. But for some reason, I did not get excited with the idea of having a new baby at home. I’m so in-love with my firstborn, Heinel, that I worry that the new baby will take my time away from him. I am enjoying his age wherein I can already converse with him and play with him. I was also worried that I will not be able to love the baby the way that I love my firstborn. I mean, I only have one heart in it seems so full already with my husband and Heinel. I love the stability of our life now and a new baby will bring in new and foreign adjustments to us, especially to Heinel. With work taking my time 5 days in a week for about 10-11 hours (including travel time), I do not have much time for Heinel; how much more if there are two of them already? Apart from these thoughts, the reality of me getting pregnant again scares me because during my first pregnancy, I had quite a hard time and my body was having difficulty adjusting to hormonal changes. It was a series of conflicting emotions, one after the other. But one thing remained, I do now know if I have the heart and the strength to be a mom to two kids.
But when I got pregnant, all these fears begin to subside. As my baby grows inside me, so did my love for him grew. It is impossible not to love my own child so much even though I have not seen him. With all my worries occupying my mind then, I forgot how magical the feeling of being pregnant is until I went thru it again . But this time it is more amazing because I have an elder son who is so excited to see his brother. I guess, that is also the reason why pregnancy takes 9 months, to give moms and dads (and siblings too!) time to adjust and be prepared to the new addition to the family. Even if it was difficult, knowing and feeling the baby inside me makes every pain worth it. As my pregnancy progresses, I know that things will change especially after I gave birth, but I welcome it wholeheartedly. We will adjust as a family and we will definitely make room for the newest member of it.

Now, my new baby is home with us. One thing I realized is that my heart has enough space for everybody. During my pregnancy, as my baby grows, so is a portion of my heart occupied by him too. The love I have for my firstborn will always be there and will always belong to him. My second son, also has my wholehearted love. Each of them gets 100% of love. And I believe that is how a parents' heart is; it will never run out of space no matter how many children there are. Each of them is precious and special no matter if they are the first, second, or even the last child. The heart may seems small but it its power to love is limitless and endless.

I want a Pet Today!

2012-07-31T10:52:00.000+08:00

Bubble Guppies is a show in Nickolodeon which features animated preschool mermaids and mermain. This has become my son's favorite show before going to school because it somehow mimic's his classroom setup in his progressive school such as circle time, lunch time and outdoor play.
I also like the show because I find the characters so cute and the songs are catchy. One of my favorites is the song that teaches kids how to take care and love their pets. At their age, preschoolers get fascinated with pet animals and it is a good thing to teach them how to take care of their pets and consider them as members of the family.

Hope your kids enjoy the video as much as mine did!

REVIEW: Mommy Treats Lactation Cookies and Muffins

2012-07-29T08:38:00.001+08:00

Background from Mommy Treats website:

Mommy Treats Official Icon

Mommy Treats is the brain-child of a first-time mommy who was once in dire need of increasing her milk supply. After much researching for natural and non-pharmaceutical galactagogues (substances that help increase lactation), finding the perfect recipes, and having other mommies test my baked treats for both effectiveness and taste, I am so happy to finally provide lactating mommies the first, ever, lactation treats in the Philippines!

Mommy Treats offers LACTATION COOKIES, LACTATION MUFFIN BITES, and LACTATION CUPCAKE BITES that are packed with galactatgogues such as fiber-and-iron-rich oats, Omega-3-flowing flax seed, cholesterol-and-blood-sugar-lowing fenugreek, and Vitamin-B-packed brewer's yeast! am so happy to finally provide lactating mommies the first, ever, lactation treats in the Philippines!

Mommy Treats was introduced to me by Maricel of TheMedela House. I initially bought a sample pack of carrot walnut and banana walnut muffins. I was surprised that it is actually very yummy. For something that is healthy and nutritious, Mommy Treats surely made it so delicious fun to eat.

I am not one of those who are blessed with overflowing breastmilk, thus, the need to have supplements. Initally, I can only pump 1 to 1.5 ounces of milk on both breasts. But after trying these lactation treats, my milk supply did increase by .5 to 1 ounce of milk per pump! I was so pleased!

Mommy Treats Muffin Bites

I order her treats from her facebook account, which I found very useful and easy to work with. Now, she already has her own website which clients can also order from. Paola is very nice and accommodating to her clients. Upon texting her the proof of payment, she bakes the treats right away. I usually have my treats a day after or at least 1.5 days after paying for them! Not only that, she usually gives a pack or two of free additional treats!

Mommy Treats Lactation Cookies

In termsof value for money, Mommy Treats offers a very reasonable price. Her goods are packed on a per day basis serving and costs P60 per pack. But if you order in large amounts, she gives discounts. This is reasonable compared to buying formula milk to supplement your breastmilk. I usually order one month supply of treats which are a mix of muffins and oatmeal cookies

I’ve been ordering Mommy Treats' yummy goodies for 4 months now and intend to continue to do so! My personal favorites are the carrot walnut muffin and the banana walnut muffin. Now that the neonatologist of my son already allowed me to eat chocolates, I can not wait to try her brownies, choco chip cookies and choco cup cake bites!

With the delicious and healthy way of increasing my milk, together with Paola’s very good customer service, I give Mommy Treats a two thumbs up! I definitely recommend her treats to all breastfeeding moms!

You can visit her website at http://www.mommytreats.ph/

Her facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/#!/mommytreats

Phot Credits: http://www.mommytreats.ph/

Life after NICU

2012-07-24T13:15:00.001+08:00

I was out of the loop the past couple of weeks because a major milestone happened in our lives. Last July 6, we finally get to bring home our son, Hendrix, after 3.5months of stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It was the day that we have all been waiting for and his first day at home felt like his birthday.

The first few days at home were an adjustment for all of us. We know Hendrix was adjusting to the new environment as well because he was fuzzy and cranky and can not seem to get a good sleep. I know he misses his NICU home with all the sounds of equipments, buzzers, babies crying and of course, the voices and touches of all his nurses and resident doctors. I think the one thing that helped with his transition at home is his music from his MP3 player which we played in his incubator and bassinet during his confinement in the hospital. At home, with the music being played, it soothes him because it is the one familiar thing amidst all the new things around him.

Cleanliness is a major factor now that he’s already at home. His room is like a sterile area in the house. Everyone is required t o wash their hands and sanitize with alcohol before holding him. if suspected with a cold, one is not allowed to enter his room, or if necessary, she is required to wear a mask. We still have not allowed any visitors yet to avoid exposing him to viruses or any sicknesses. We are greateful to our relatives and friends who had been very understanding of the situation. We promise that as soon as he gets really strong we will welcome visitors to see him.

As a mom, the major adjustment is on my sleeping hours. Despite being almost four months old, his corrected age (because he is a preemie) is that of a one month old baby, and therefore his sleeping patterns are still erratic and that of a newborn's. When Hendrix is asleep, I then attend to his four year old brother, who, thank heavens is also very understanding of our situation. I would find myself having only about 2-4 hours of sleep everyday. Good thing, I’m blessed with a husband and mother-in law who are willing to take turns with me in the morning.

When he was discharged, he has a long list of medications and vitamins. It was tough to keep up at first but later I was able to get the hang of giving all his medications on time. Then there is also his massage therapy that I have to do twice a day to improve his eating habits. Eventually, I will have to teach his caregiver these before I go back to work in August.

With him being at home now, his feeding is no longer scheduled but rather given on a per demand basis. He is purely breastfed, but on certain times of the day he drinks breastmilk via his preemie feeding bottles because either I’m sleeping or a medicine needs to be mixed in his milk. But most of the time latches directly to me.

it has been three weeks now and slowly, everyone has adjusted to Hendrix’s presence at home, After months of waiting and praying, now we can finally say that our family is complete! Thank God!

Our Everyday Miracle

2012-06-29T19:53:00.000+08:00

Life of a preemie parent has a lot of “ups” and “down” days. Yesterday I had my “down” then “up” day. It started in the morning when I was feeling down because all the babies that were with our son at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) had gone home. Babies come and go but our son is still there, 3.5 months after. It's a mixed feeling actually because I'm so happy for these babies and their parents that they finally get to be together but I'm sad for us because my son is still in NICU, waiting for the day when he will be with his family.

But something happened which made me realize that the only feeling that I should be dwelling on now is that of pure joy and gratitude. Yesterday, a baby boy was admitted to the NICU while I was there to visit our son. He's 29-weeks old, 3weeks older than our son who was born 26 weeks into gestation. There was total panic inside the NICU as nurses and doctors rushed to attend to the baby boy. The baby does not look good upon birth with all his bruises in the body and lung weakness. He came out abruptly and thus no medicine has been given to the mom prior to giving birth to at least strengthen his lungs and other organs. Later in the afternoon, I asked for the condition of the baby and the nurse told me that the baby might not survive and will probably expire in a few hours. His chances for survival is very low.

I felt weak upon hearing those. I felt deeply sad for the baby for he will not be able to see his parents faces or even feel their warmth as they hold him. I felt sad for his parents because they will no longer see their son smile, laugh, walk and grow up. It was a very very sad feeling at the NICU yesterday.

After I said a short prayer for the baby boy, I went back to my sleeping son and stared at him. I realized how blessed we are to still have him 3.5 months after the ordeal he went thru. How blessed we are that we are now able to carry him, see him smile and hear him cry so loud wherein months ago we didn’t even know if he will survive another day! How blessed we are that our son has won over all the possible complications of his prematurity; that he is now healthy compared to his condition months ago when we were worried about the development of several of his vital organs! The list goes on and on but only one thing remains, we are trully blessed because our son is alive! We have experienced God’s miracle first-hand thru our son. It does not matter how long he fought, what matters is how he survived it all!

Now, the feelings left are that only of immense joy and gratitude! I only have excitement and anticipation for the time that we will be abe to bring home our little miracle bundle of joy! It may not be sooner than I expected but I do know that in God’s perfect time he will be with us at home soon!

Storing Frozen Breastmilk

2012-06-27T21:50:00.000+08:00

It is not all the time that babies can drink directly from mom's breast such as when mom is at work or baby can not feed on his own yet. Aside from regularly expressing milk to continue your supply, storing and keeping it fresh is equally important. I've been expressing and storing milk since I gave birth 3.5 months ago. Here are ways on how I store my expressed breastmilk.

Cleanliness is a priority. I always wash my hands and rub alcohol or hand sanitizer prior to expressing my milk. Containers and pump must be clean as well to avoid contamination of milk. If I have even just a single doubt that the milk is not free from contamination, I immediately discard it.

Milk containers must be clean and sterilized. Initially, I used my baby's feeding bottles. However, since his consumption is significantly lower than what I produced everyday, I eventually run out of feeding bottles to use. I later used disposable milk storage bags and reusable milk containers.

Milk storage bags are reasonably priced and is available in department stores. The brands I've used so far are Ai-Non and Precious Moments. It can hold up to 8ounces of milk per bag. I like Precious Moments more because its measurements are accurate. Equally popular is Nanny brand. In the Philippines, each box costs P300 ($7) each which contains 25 bags. It is pre-sterilized so I can use it immediately.

I also used the Medela Milk Containers. These containers, however, are not available in most department stores. I purchased it from The Medela House and can hold up to 2.5ml of milk each. It may seem expensive at first (P700 for 10pcs or $16) but it can be used several times. It can also be used later to store baby food. Since I'm using a Medela pump, this is a good buy as well since it fits perfectly into the assembly of the pump.

Afte the containers, the next thing to consider is the actual storing of milk. My son's doctor told me that I should not immediately freeze freshly expressed milk because it's wam. So I let it stand for 5-10 minutes to cool it down a bit then put it inside the fridge. Also, to maximize the use of my containers, I add up the milk that I expressed. Each of my bag contains 5 to 6 ounces each or equivalent to two rounds of expressed milk. This is safe for as long as they are of the same temperature when combined. I put them inside the fridge first then later when they are of the same temperature, I transfer it to the containers. Never combine freshly expressed milk with the one inside the fridge and most especially do not combine it with the frozen ones as this can spoil the milk. Also, milk inside the fridge can last up to 24 hours only, otherwise it must be frozen , used or discard. Always remember to label each bag with the date of storage. Consumption must be on a first -in and first out basis.

For most of us who do not have a separate freezer for breastmilk, we freeze our milk together with ice and meat. To protect milk from contamination, I put my containers inside plastics and seal it to ensure that it will be free from odors and germs from other frozen items most especially meat and poultry products. I use plastic food plastics and place it together with ice.

I do hope I was able to help you with my tips above. If you have something to add, let me know so I can also improve the quality of my frozen breastmilk!

Feverish First Born

2012-06-12T08:17:00.001+08:00

My first born son, Heinel has fever since Sunday. It went as high as 39.5C Monday morning. He also had vomiting episodes coupled with headache and nausea. He was also complaining of a painful throat so we initially thought fever was due to tonsillitis. But when we had him checked by his Pediatrician, she ruled it out because it is not inflamed enough to cause fever. He also has no cough and colds. She advised him to take his medicine (paracetamol), drink plenty of water and restrain from too much physical activity. If fever still persists, he will have to undergo blood test to further check what is causing the on and off fever.

There’s nothing more difficult for a parent than seeing their kids get sick. But now that he is already a preschooler, things got a bit easier because he can now communicate what he feels. During his checkup, he was the one who talked to his doctor to explain what he feels. It makes me really, really proud because he is not shy anymore. At home, he repeatedly reminds me and himself of what his pediatrician told him. Although he finds it a challenge not to be as active as he is, I can very much see his effort. He wants to get well because school starts on Wednesday and he is looking forward to seeing his classmates.

Right now his temperature still goes up but immediately goes down after taking paracetamol. I'm glad he now takes his medicine and can already eat. Hopefully he gets better already because I personally don’t want him to undergo the painful process of a blood test. I wouldn’t want tears to wet that such happy face. Would you believe his fever was high when I took that photo? Get well Kuya (Big Brother) Heinel!

Preparing to Give Birth to a Preemie

2012-05-28T22:12:00.003+08:00

Just like every expecting mom, I never imagined that I will deliver a prematurebaby, most of all a micro preemie who’s only six months into gestation. Moms who have the most potential to deliver a premature baby are those whose pregnancies are classified as high-risk. You are considered high-risk if your pregnancy involves any of the following:

Problems with the placenta
Pregnancy with twins or more
Infection in the mother
Problems with the uterus or cervix
Young or old maternal age
Being overweight or underweight
Having had problems in previous pregnancies
Pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, dabetes
Medical condition pregnancy related such as preeclampsia, eclampsia and gestational diabetes.

In my case, I qualify in three items above. I have infection, problems with my placenta, uterus, cervix and I had problems in my previous pregnancy. From the start, my pregnancy was already considered as high risk. If you qualify in any of the conditions above, or your OB-Gyne already advised you of a possible pre-term delivery, then here are the factors that you might want to consider:

a.    Find a hospital near your home.
Chances are, you will go home first before your baby. It will be convenient if your hospital is near your home so you can visit and breastfeed your baby several times a day.

b.    Check if your hospital has a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Not all hospitals have NICU so it is best to check out if your hospital has one. It will be a hassle and also dangerous for the baby to be transported just because the hospital does not have NICU facilities. Even public hospitals have NICU such as Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), Philippine General Hospital (PGH), etc…, so it does not mean that you have to be in a private hospital.

c.    Scout for a good neonatologist.
Preemies have different needs and management compared with full term babies so pediatricians may not give them the special care that they need. Neonatologist are trained to handle premature babies and their conditions. Our neonatologist is Dra. Tita Uy who was referred to us by my OB-Gyne. She is from St. Luke’s Medical Center and Philippine General Hospital. With the help of the internet, you can find referrals from mommy forums. Ours got good comments from her patients.

d.    Breastfeeding is a must!
For all babies, it is best to breastfeed, but most importantly for preemies. Their tummies are not strong enough to process infant formula. Breast milk has nutrients that can make babies strong which no vitamins or formula milk can provide. Most, if not all neonatologist require breast milk for preemies. There are available breast milk in some hospitals but they are expensive. Even more expensive than buying formula milk. So why spend loads of money if you can have it for free?

e.    Prepare financially.
How I wish that we can just forget about finances and just focus on our babies. But sadly, that is not reality. Delivering a premature baby can be really expensive from cost of delivery, to baby’s confinement inside the NICU.

Just like in every scenario in our lives, it is best to be prepared. But remember, these points are not meant to scare or cause stress to pregnant moms. These are just things you might want to consider if your pregnancy is high risk. In the end, it is always best to have a full term pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

The Medela House

2012-05-20T08:26:00.000+08:00

After much research and going around the malls to find the perfect electric breast pump, I finally got myself a Medela Freestyle. This unit is not available in most malls here in the Philippinrs. Although some Medela pumps are available in either Rustan’s and Mothercare outlets. I bought mine from the exclusive distributor, Medela Moms at a mommy expo in Rockwell. However, you can also buy it at Medela Moms' office called The Medela House.

If you’re thinking of a buying an electric pump, then I suggest that you get yourself a Medela because it is worth every penny that you spend. Read my review here. What sealed the deal for me to buy at Medela Moms is because of three reasons; their prices are lower, they allowing fitting of the breastshield, and they provide 2 years warranty.

You can get Medela pumps up to 20% cheaper than market price if you buy it from Medela Moms. I bought mine at the expo because it’s the only time they allow payment thru credit card. If you buy at The Medela House, they accept only cash and check. But I believe it is better to buy the pump at the Medela House so you can fit your breastshield. If you did not get the right size, you will not maximize the use of the pump. It will hurt your breast and may not provide you the maximum milk output.

For someone who is a heavy user of the Freestyle pump, (I extract milk at least six times a day), the warranty is very important because I can have my pump repaired and maintained by the distributor. I believe malls do not offer that. Also, if your pump motor is under repair, they will provide with you with a temporary unit the same as yours so you can resume extracting milk while your motor is being repaired.

Malls have limited, or sometimes do not have accessories for Medela. At Medela House they offer all types of accessories such as the Quick Cleen microwavable bag which is a lifesaver for working moms like me because I can sterilize my pump and bottles at work; handsfree kits, nursing covers, etc.... I also got from them my additional set of breastshields. And if you purchase your pump from them, you will get 20% off on accessories purchases.

If you’re interested in buying your Medela pump from Medela House, you can call either Maricel or Beng, the owners of Medela House, at (725-3723, 738-6272, 0917-5614366). The Medela House, is located at #29 1st St., New Manila, Quezon City. Coming from Greenhills, it's before you reach Aurora Blvd. From E. Rodriguez, go past Auora Blvd. It's beside 8 Gilmore Place. It is on a per appointment basis so make sure that you call first before you visit their store.

*This is not a paid advertisement

Guest Post: Health Tips for Pregnant Moms

2012-05-19T22:15:00.002+08:00

Its pregnancy awareness month! Today I would like to share with you an article by my fellow blogger, Katie Moore, about staying healthy during pregnancy. Visit her blog Moore From Katie .

Pregnancy is one of the most important times for a woman to be acutely aware of her health to support the development of her child. It’s very important that an expecting mother maintains or adopts a healthy lifestyle during the pregnancy to help ensure that her child will develop properly. Most of the lifestyle choices made during pregnancy will have a direct effect on the child. It is important that the mother be strong, positive, and stress-free for the well-being of the baby. During pregnancy, mothers should focus on getting the proper nutrition, staying calm and positive, exercising, and eliminating any factors that can affect the baby. Here are some additional tips on how to stayhealthy during a pregnancy. I even provided some of my personal experiences.

A first essential step toward a healthy pregnancy is setting up an appointment with mom-to-be’s doctor. The doctor will need to begin to monitor the health of the baby and mom and the sooner this monitoring process begins, the better. Meeting with the doctor early on is also important because the doctor can make recommendations as far as a pregnancy nutrition and exercise plan go Doctors are not only imperative for pregnancy planning, but for delivery day planning as well. Any questions a woman may have about labor signals, delivery assistance, like pain management medicines, and options available for baby following delivery, like umbilical cord blood banking, can all be asked and planned for in advance at her doctor appointments. - It is also important that before getting pregnant, a woman should already find herself a good doctor; one in which she is most comfortable with. It's difficult to change doctors during pregnancy, especially if it is a sensitive pregnancy.

A mother’s nutrition is very important for the development of the baby. While a woman is eating for herself and baby, she doesn’t need to eat double her normal portions. Pregnant women should maintain a balanced, healthy diet and should only consume approximately 300 additional calories a day. Foods rich in iron, calcium, folic acid, and Vitamin A should be consumed during the pregnancy to make sure the baby receives all the vitamins and minerals they need and to ensure that the mother’s body is not depleted of these nutrients once she gives birth. - Always remember, quality over quantity!

Taking a prenatal vitamin is great way to ensure that a mother is receiving the nutrients she needs that she may not be getting enough of from her diet. Although it seems obvious that pregnant mothers should take the vitamin, many don’t do so because it makes them feel nauseous or they are not receiving prenatal care. Folic acid is necessary for the baby’s development and if the mother does not take a folic acid supplement, the baby is at risk of developing spina bifida. If a pregnant mother cannot tolerate a prenatal vitamin, she should speak to her doctor so they can provide other alternatives.

Physical exercise is also important for a healthy pregnancy and baby. Women that were already physically active should scale down their routine, but continue exercising regularly. Exercise during the pregnancy helps combat stress and depression, reduces the mother’s chances of having gestational diabetes, can reduce some of the uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy, and can help the mother be fit for the delivery of the baby. Exercise during pregnancy should be low-impact and mild in intensity. One of the most recommended exercises for pregnant mothers is yoga. There are many yoga classes available for pregnant mothers that are tailored specifically to their needs.

An additional critical step for a mom-to-be is to eliminate all factors that can negatively affect the health of the baby. Substances like alcohol, several medications, cigarette smoke, drugs, lead, radiation and harsh chemicals should all be avoided or should no longer be used. Use of these substances can compromise the growth and development of the baby causing miscarriages and birth defects. The healthier a mother’s living environment is, the healthier baby’s environment will be.

Prenatal care during the pregnancy is very important for both the mother’s and the child’s health. It is important for the mother to have regular visits so the proper exams can be done to monitor the development of the baby and provide any medications or other support, if needed. With these considerations, a mother can expect to enjoy an easy pregnancy and the joy of a healthy baby.

“Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.”

Breast Pump Review

2012-05-14T22:01:00.003+08:00

I was out of the loop for the past couple of weeks because I was so busy expressing milk for my baby. In my last post, I was asking for advice on which electric breastpump to get. Well, I got myself a Medela Freestyle dual electric breast pump. Before getting the Freestlye, I used two manual pumps. Today I will review these three pumps.

Farlin Manual Breast Pump

Pros:

One of the most affordable pumps in the market

Compatible with standard neck bottles

Available in most malls

User friendly

Cons

Handle is hard to grip. For someone like me who does not that much milk, it can be very tiring to use this product.

Low milk let down. I barely got an ounce for almost an hour and my hands hurt a lot.

Breast shield is hard. I find the breast shields very hard and painful

Recommendation: If you’re on a tight budget and do not intend to use it often, but rather, just a stand-by pump in case your baby did not empty your breast upon latching, then this product will work for you. This pump is not for heavy duty use.

Avent Manual Breast Pump

Pros:

The handles are softer and easier to grip.

Very user friendly.

Available in most malls

More comfortable on the breast since it breast shields have silicon which decreases the pressure on the breast

Good milk let down

Because it is easier to grip, you can dictate your own pressure

Cons:

One of the most expensive manual pumps in the market.

Can only be used with Avent bottles, which are also quite expensive.

Recommendation: If you intend to use a pump at home for moderate use, and has additional budget, then go for Avent. Most of my friends still opt for Avent because of its user friendliness and better milk let down. Also for those with sensitive breasts like me, I recommend Avent.

Medela Freestyle Dual Electric Pump

Pros:

The dual pump makes me express twice as fast compared with a manual pump.

It has a good pull which makes the let down easier.

Very convenient for moms on the go.

Excellent for heavy duty use. I use mine 6-7 times a day.

Long battery life.

Can fit with standard neck bottles.

Excellent down. With the proper size of the breast shield, you can actually increase your milk output compared with using a manual pump.

Aside from the pump, you get several accessories such as handsfree accessoriers (which makes the electric pump really really cool and convenient), and cooling bag with blue ice (you wouldn’t want your breastmilk to spoil before you arrive home from work!).

It has a memory function which allows you to record the progression of the expression milk that you prefer.

Cons:

One of the most expensive electric dual breast pumps but not as expensive as Avent ISIS dual electric pump.

Quite complicated to set up and use but after a while you will get used to attaching and detaching the parts.

Not readily available in most malls. In fact, I haven’t seen any Freestlye in any mall. I got mine from the exclusive distributor. I will soon write a post about it. So far I haven’t seen any Medela pumps in SM Malls. They’re mostly available in Rustans and Ayala Malls only not all types are available in them.

Recommendation: Medela Freestyle is ideal for working moms and for moms like me who has premature babies (because of better milk let down). I consider it as an investment because I will be using it for a while since my baby is not allowed to drink formula milk. If you intend to buy Freestyle or any Medela products for that matter, I recommend that you buy directly to the official distributor here in the Philippines because it is cheaper compared to mall prices. I will write about The Medela House soon.

Avent or Medela Swing?

2012-05-05T20:09:00.002+08:00

In two weeks, maternity leave is over for me. Time to go back to work! Now I have quite a dilemma here which I'm sure fellow moms can help me with. I want to buy an electric pump which I can bring to the office to express milk for my preemie baby. I'm currently using an Avent Manual breastpump and it's been wonderful. However, I can not bring it to me at work because (1) since I do not have that much milk, it can be very tiring to manually pump to get as much as 2 ounces and (2) it is time consuming as well. Now, with the electric pump, I can stay at my desk and work while expressing milk (with the help of a breastmilk pumping bra of course).
I've been scouting for the perfect breastpump and I'm down to two choices; either an Avent Electric breast pump or a Medela Swing Electric Pump.

These two are on the same price range. Since an electric pump is quite pricey, I want to make sure that I buy the right one so I won't go wasting money. Fellow moms, which of the two will you recommend? Basically my concerns are:
1. Which one produces more milk (better let down)
2. Durability
3. User friendliness
4. Quite motor (some pumps have very noisy motors. How embarrassing to officemates!)

I do hope you can help me out here moms! I will appreciate all your feedback! Thanks.

A Salute to Breastfeeding Moms

2012-04-27T20:06:00.000+08:00

Just like most people, my general knowledge of breastfeeding is that it is very beneficial for babies as it contains antibodies and nutrients that no formula milk can imitate. I also knew that it is the ultimate bonding moment for a mother and her baby. Now that I'm also breastfeeding, there's one major thing that I realized; BREASTFEEDING IS NOT EASY. Breastfeeding is manifestation of a mother's unconditional love for her baby. And with that I have gained a whole new respect for breastfeeding moms.

It took me 4 years of being a mom to realize that. I did not breastfeed my firstborn son because I did not have sufficient breast milk. But with my second son who was born 3 months earlier than his due date, I have to breastfeed because his small tummy can not take in milk formula. Since he is still in the incubator, I express my milk at home and bring it to hospital. The usual frequency of feeding newborns is every 3 hours and that is also what I follow in expressing my milk (except when I sleep at night). That level of frequency means my activities are limited. This afternoon was my first time to go to the mall and I'm literally rushing to go home because I'm late for my milk expressing schedule. I can just imagine how demanding it is when baby is at home and is already latching at mom's breast. Not only is mom's activities limited, but so is her sleeping hours as newborns are mostly awake at night. And how about working moms who express milk at work and latches baby at home? Talk about ultimate dedication!

A mom also sacrifices convenience. Breastfeeding can be painful. Breasts hurt when it is full and not expressed; and breasts hurt when being expressed and sucked by the baby. So either way, it can be painful. Also, milk not expressed leaks. Imagine the scenario if mom is out for an errand or in a meeting and milk leaks? You got the picture I guess.

These realizations put me in awe at breastfeeding moms, more so for those who did it for a year or more. Breastfeeding entails a lot of love, patience, sacrifice and dedication. A mother sacrifices time, sleep and convenience to feed her baby. Breast milk is a product of a mother's unconditional love to her baby. I never knew that until now. So to all breastfeeding moms, a big salute to all of you!

A most awaited moment...

2012-04-26T15:14:00.000+08:00

Since giving birth to my son a month and a half ago, my daily routine includes going to the hospital and visiting my son Hendrix. Everyday I talk to him, caress his body, watch him sleep, hold his little hands and feet. But yesterday, a big change in my daily visit happened.

The joyous moment of mother holding her baby happens upon birth for most moms, but for me, I waited 41 days for it to happen. And it was just as magical. This time no glass incubator separates us. I held him close to me, kissed him and smelled him. I know Hendrix is happy too because he smiled several times. It was a moment that I did not want to end. It was the day I will forever remember.

In God's time I know that soon we will be able to bring Hendrix home. I am very much looking forward to that day when I get to hold him and be with him the entire day; singing him lullabies, calming him when he cries and putting him to sleep. Hendrix is getting better and I know the best is yet to come.

Preparing kids to social events

2012-04-24T09:26:00.004+08:00

My son Heinel is a very shy boy. He gets pretty stressed out on birthday parties, weddings, school programs and other social events because it means meeting strangers and going to an unfamiliar place. But he was slowly able to get past that. Today I will share with you some ways that helped my son to relax and enjoy social events:

1. If your child is terrified to go somewhere, ask him what scares him the most, then address his fear.

My son usually says he does not like birthday parties because he gets shy with other kids and their parents. We tell him that it is alright if he does not want to play with them and if he really feels shy towards the adults, he need not talk but just have to smile. This makes Heinel feel that we understand him and we respect how he feels by not forcing him to do something he is not ready to do.

2. Go to the venue earlier than the time of the actual event.

Arriving the same time as everybody does can be very overwhelming to children because they see strangers and unfamiliar environment all at the same time. Arriving earlier will give them time to have a feel of the place, and explore the vicinity of the area without bumping into other guests. He gets to see slowly how people starts coming in and saying hi to him one by one as oppose to arriving later and have several people greet them at once.

3 3. A week before the event, prepare your kids by talking to them about it.

For our son, letting him know in advance allows him to have time to absorb the idea that for that weekend, we will not be going to the mall. The best method is to show him the calendar and point the date of the event. Then everyday, as I remind him, I show him the calendar again so he can see how many days more before we go.

4 4. Set a positive mood for the event.

Whether it is a birthday party, wedding, family get together; it is best to create a positive picture on his mind like telling him what is in store for him such as magicians, puppets, yummy food, balloons, etc.. set the mood that the place is fun.

5 5. Be a friend.

Go around the area or join games with him. Do not scold him for being shy, it is not his fault after all.

6 6. Bring a favorite toy.

Venues are new environments and kids need to feel secure. Bringing his favorite toy can help him feel at ease. It can also start a conversation with a friend or an adult. Before, when we attend birthday parties, Heinel warms up only to people who talks to him about his toy. Also, if he really does not want to participate in the party, having a toy will distract him so you and dad can join the activities.

Just like in anything, all our kids need is a little time. He will not be super shy forever. Just give them time to come out of their shells. I do hope my tips will be of help to you. Feel free to share yours too!

Water please!

2012-04-22T16:05:00.000+08:00

I have been absent from blogging for quite sometime because I got sick. I had on and off fever for several days coupled by nausea and weakness. When I got confined at the hospital my doctor said that I was dehydrated. And because of it, I also developed urinary track infection (UTI). I had both because of only one reason; I wasn't drinking enough water.

Considering the very hot weather now here in Manila, it is so easy to get dehydrated. Well, here are some signs that you are dehydrated:
1. Dark yellow urine
2. Dry mouth
3. Weakness in muscle
4. Headache
5. Dizziness
6. Low blood pressure
7. Increased heart beat
8. Fever
9. Unconsciousness

But in order not to experience any of these, it is best to hydrate yourself and drink plenty of water. You wouldn't want getting sick to get in the way of your daily activities.

Because I am extracting milk for my baby who is in the incubator, getting sick meant no milk for my baby. I am allowed to pump my milk but not to save it for him. It was almost a week of throwing milk. I felt really bad. But good thing I have several reserves inside the fridge so my baby did not get hungry.

Now I'm up and about and fully recovered. As a mom, I realized that, now more than ever, I need to take care of myself for my two sons. Not only am I a mom who takes care of her kids, I am also the only source of food and nutrients of my second born son.

Faith... Total Surrender

2012-04-08T16:26:00.007+08:00

With our Baby Hendrix in the Neonatal ICU, the past three weeks had been a roller coaster of emotions. Some days are up, some are down. There are several instances when we celebrate over some developments then just a few hours later cry over negative updates from his doctor. As a result, despite receiving some good news, I would find myself crying and worrying if it will be followed by disappointing news as well.

Last weekend was definitely one of those days. The Doctor reported a major setback. At that point, additional medicines or procedures were not advisable. The only thing to do is to observe and wait if Hendrix can fight it out.

For someone like me who is used to taking control of things, it is difficult to just wait. I plan everything. And when things do not go my way, I get really upset. And with Hendrix, I already expected a miracle, because of all the prayers we’ve been receiving from family, relatives, friends, relatives, prayer groups, even from people we do not know. I expected his Doctor to tell me “We do not know how it happened, but your son is perfectly healthy!” But it did not happen and I was disappointed. Very disappointed.

In the middle of these emotions, I read the bible to find some comfort. And the verses I read in both books of Matthew and Mark, tell how people’s faith in God allowed them to be healed by Jesus.

Matthew 9:27 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.

Mark 10:52 “Go” said Jesus. “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Reading these verses was the enlightenment that I needed. It made me realize that even thru prayers I was still trying to take control of things. I want things exactly my way; that I refuse “No” as answer. Reading these verses opened up my eyes and heart. I need to have faith and faith means total surrender. I have to believe that God will heal my son; and that God knows what is best for my son.

After reading the bible, I meditated and prayed. And when I opened my eyes, I felt relieved. I felt like a heavy weight has been taken from my shoulders. I have faith. I believe. I surrender.

Hendrix’s condition is improving as days go by. It is not perfect yet, but having that renewed faith allowed me to be thankful and be happy for the good news, and take calmly any problems that come our way. We are taking it one day at a time.

And if you’re wondering about the major setback I mentioned above, yes, Hendrix was able to fight it out. Thank God! A blessed easter to everyone!