Food Trippin' with Kids

My husband and I love to eat. Obvious naman sa mga katawan namin di ba? Haha! We love to try new restaurants. Tipong dadayuhin talaga namin yan kahit san lupalop pa man basta matikman lang namin. Ganyan kami ever since na mag-BF-GF pa kami.

Before, napakadali pumunta kahit saan. Walang ka-stress stress. Malalasap at ma-eenjoy mo talaga ang food at tipong mabibigyan mo talaga ng tamang judgment.

Pero ngayon, sobrang CHAOTIC and STRESSFUL! Imagine us, with 4 kids. 3 boys and 1 girl. Tapos lahat 6 and under. Haaayyy buhay talaga. 

Do you want to picture it?

- Messy table

- Food everywhere

- Utensils falling on the floor

- Drinking water / Beverages spilling

- Noisy kids

- Kids fighting over some petty things

- Kids moving and running around

- Changing moods of children

- Kids throwing things

- and many more...

As a result, hindi na namin ma-enjoy ang pag-food trip. Nandiyan yung namaster na namin ang pagkain with one hand (if there's no high chair), yung mamadaliin mo na ang pagkain para matapos na at makaalis na kaagad and yung feeling na instead na ma-satisfy ka sa pagkain ay yung napagod ka lang. Kaya minsan talaga mas gugustuhin na lang namin ang kumain sa bahay.

Hindi ko alam ha, minsan naman ok ang pagdine-out namin. Pero minsan talaga super to the max ang gulo. 

Sa aking pag-assess, may mga factors din siguro na nakaka-affect ng behavior ng kids. Like kapag sleeping time na nila (around 3pm and around 9pm). Mga kids kasi namin, hindi nagtotopak kapag inaantok. Ang senyales ng pagkaantok nila is nagiging hyper sila masyado. Another factor is the restaurant's ambiance. Kapag medyo maingay at magulo ang place, magulo din sila. Lastly, if pagod din sila, it's either nagiging hyper or tinotopak sila.

Though nakaka-stress, wala naman kaming choice di ba? Haha! Pero part na yan ng aming life as parents. I'm sure na mamimiss namin ang stressful and chaotic food trippin' namin with our kids when they grow up. =)

Piso Piso

Teaching Filipino is kinda challenging to my kids. As in effort to the max! Their mother tongue kasi is English. Ewan ko ba at bakit mga naging Inglisero ang mga yan. Bigla na lang nung lumaki, nag-E-English kaya kinausap na rin namin ng English. Haha!

Anyway, hinayaan na lang namin that they speak English. First, kapag lumaki naman sila, English naman talaga ang ginagamit sa conversation sa business or professional world di ba? Second, in terms of subject in school, isa lang naman ang Filipino subject and the rest of the subjects English ang means ng pagturo. Third, I think madali lang naman matutunan ang Filipino language specially if they hear us talk it.

Going back sa pagtuturo...

With all of the subjects, ang dali nilang turuan. Very attentive and kaya namin ng take 1 lang ang isang topic. Kaya naman ang bilis ng phasing namin. When it comes to Filipino subject, ayan na... Naghihikab na ang mga yan. They find it boring. Haaayyysstt... Pero, in fairness naman sa mga anak ko, kapag itinuro mo sa kanila, naiintindihan naman nila ang concept. I-eexplain ko lang sa kanila yung counterpart nun sa English and voila alam na nila and madali na for them. If you talk to them in Filipino, they can understand you. Yun nga lang, sasagutin ka ng Ingles. Haha! Pero right now, kahit papaano, nakikita ko na nagtry try na sila sumagot ng Filipino kahit pilipit. Hahaha!

Recently, nakakuha ako ng idea kung paano sila magiging attentive sa Filipino subject. Since they are saving up for a new Nerf gun, sabi ko every correct answer nila sa akin, may Piso sila. So ayun, na-excite ang mga kulilits! Naging attentive and naging very competitive sa isa't isa. Yun nga lang, may napipikon kapag nakakalamang na ng sagot yung isa. Hahaha!

So far, effective naman ang new strategy ko. Kaso nga lang, ang drawback nito ay mamumulubi ata ako. Hahaha!

How about you mommies out there? How do you effectively teach Filipino subjects to your kids?

Late Night Panic

Last night, nagpanic kami ni hubby dahil kay Ina. You won't believe kung ano ang nagyari!

Here is the kwento:

While I'm doing some paper works, Ian and Chris suddenly went out of the bedroom shouting at the top of their lungs...

Ian and Chris: MOMMY!!! HURRY!!! INA!!!
Me: Why? What happened?
Ian: Ina, got stuck.
Me: Where?
Chris: At the bed!

I rushed to the bedroom and saw Ina dun sa bandang headboard ng bed. She got stuck in between the wooden and metal part ng base ng bed.

I tried pulling her out, pero hindi kaya. Feeling ko mapuputol in half yung katawan ng anak ko dahil sa liit ng gap. I hurriedly called hubby (who is taking a bath) and told him to help me. Pati siya nagpanic na. Nagtapis lang sabay takbo kay Ina. He tried widening the gap so I can pull Ina out, pero wala pa rin.

I told him na kailangan namin kalasin yung bed. So dali dali siyang tumakbo sa garage to get some wrench sa car niya. Habang kinakalas ni hubby ang bed, nasa tabi lang ako ni Ina at kinakalma siya kasi nagpapanic na rin dahil nga na-stuck siya. Finally, nakalas na ang bed at natanggal ko si Ina.

I hugged Ina tightly and checked if na-injure yung bandang belly niya. Thank God, walang injury. Sabi ko sa anak ko, "Anak, ano ba yan? Kaisa isa ka lang na babae namin, huwag ka naman ganyan!"

Haaayyysssttt... Ewan ko ba at kung ano ang naisipan ng anak ko at isiniksik ang sarili sa gap na yun. Hindi ko talaga ma-imagine kung paano siya nagkasya dun. Buti na lang at nasa bahay si hubby, na-heart attack na siguro ako kung ako lang mag-isa.

Pero alam niyo ba, hindi lang first time na-stuck si Ina. May isang incident na na-stuck din siya, pero yung legs lang. Ipinasok dun sa gap ng foot board. Matagal tagal ko rin na-figure out kung paano alisin yung legs niya nun at kung hindi, kailangan ko lagariin yung wood since hindi nakakalas yung part na yun.

Si Ina talaga... Hindi ko alam kung bakit sobrang likot ng anak ko na yan. Kung sino pa ang babae, siya pa ang sobrang likot. Take note, talo niya ang 3 kuya niya sa kalikutan at katapangan.

O siya, tutulog na ako. =)

Wiwi Problem

Hello guys! I'm here again. As much as I wanted to write and write blog entries, hindi ko na magawa. Hindi na talaga kaya ng powers ko eh. Kung makakasingit, I'll try my best to write something. =)

Anyway, I have a problem right now. It's about Ina, my only girl and youngest child. The problem is she is imitating her brothers in peeing! As in if she goes to the CR, she'll put up the toilet seat and stand in front of the toilet and pretend to pee. Parang lalaki lang!

Then, when I try to let her pee by sitting on the toilet seat, pumapalag. Kailangan talaga ng matinding pakiusapan and explanation na she is a girl and she needs to pee that way. And take note, I demonstrate to her pa how to pee. Hahaha!

So ngayon, binilinan ko na ang mga kuya niya to always close the CR door when they pee and not to show Ina how they pee. Haaayyyssttt... Monkey see and monkey do nga naman...

For you moms there who has an only girl, do you or did you experience this also? How do you go about it? Please share naman. =)

Christoff's First Time at Kids Church

Last Sunday, I told hubby that I'll bring Christoff to Kids Church. Gusto ko na kasi siya masanay with other kids around. Aside from that, he's 3 years old already so I think it's about time to bring him there.

With Christoff, medyo tough ang pagdala sa kanya sa Kids Church. He's the playful type kasi. Tapos yung play niya, rough talaga. That is why I accompanied him inside. Kailangan ko muna bantayan at baka kasi maya't maya magflash ng pangalan niya sa screen.

So ayun na nga. I went with him inside. Nakaupo lang ako sa tabi. At first, during the praise and worship of the kids, he is participating naman. Enjoy si kulit! He is singing and dancing with the other kids.

Eto na... Nung pinaupo na lahat ng kids para sa class rules, nabore na si kulit. He is already starting to create attention from other kids. May sinasandalan... May tinutulak... May kinukurot... Panay saway ko! Na-stress talaga ako! There was a point na may tinulak siya na masmalaki sa kanya. Ayun, binalikan siya. Eh pikon, tinulak niya ulit. Bago pa magkapikunan, kinuha ko na siya. Kinausap ko to stop doing what he is doing kung hindi ilalabas ko siya sa Kids Church.

Tinabi ko siya sa mga kuya niya. Ang bwinibwisit naman yung mga kuya niya. Ang kulit lang talaga. For him kasi, yung mga ginagawa niya is play lang.

Tapos nung may activity kung saan nag-ask ng volunteer yung teacher, gusto niya siya rin. Nung hindi siya napasama, pinuntahan yung napili tapos inagaw yung glass na may liquid. Natapunan tuloy yung bata. Muntik na umiyak! Pinasorry ko siya, nagsorry naman si kulit.

Dahil ayaw ko na ng trouble pa, tinabihan ko na until they were grouped according to age.

When he was with the kids of his age, he was doing well naman. He is participating sa mga activities and he is answering naman the teacher's questions. Sadyang maharot lang talaga, kaya may times na kinukulit yung katabi niya.

During crafts time, he did his work on his own. Nakakatuwa panuorin kasi gumagawa talaga siya and he even shouted "Finish!" While showing his work to his teacher.

Here is his work...

During snack time, kain din siya. Nakakahiya lang kasi parang PG (patay gutom) siy kumain. As in namumuwalan! Hahaha!

After that, play play naman sila kaya kita ko sa kanya na nag-eenjoy siya sobra.

Maya maya, may mga parents na na dumating to get their kids. Eh nataon na yung teacher nila ang in-charge sa pagtawag ng kids. In other words, no activities na for their group. Ayan na naman si kulit! Na-bore na naman! Ang siste niya, tatayo sabay takbo then tatalunan yung nakaupo niyang girl classmate! Oh my talaga! Yung ginagawa niyang harot sa mga kuya niya, ginawa niya dun sa girl. Eh ampayat pa naman. Pinag-sorry ko siya. Buti na lang at hindi umiyak yung bata.

Kaya ayun, bago pa makasakit, nilabas ko na.

Na-stress talaga ako sa anak ko na iyan. Sa kambal, wala akong naging problema eh. Haaaayyysssttt. Iba-iba talaga ang mga bata. Mukhang ilang Linggo pa akong sasama kay Christoff sa Kids Church. I really have to make sure na mawala ang pagiging maharot niya bago ko siya iwan ng tuluyan. I believe na darating din yung time na he'll behave well.

So that's it!

Ransacked!!!

I have two toddlers now in the house - Ina and Christoff! You can't just imagine the trouble these two make when they are together. As in grabe!

Totoo pala the saying na you should be wary whenever your kids are quiet. Quiet, meaning yung tipong hindi mo naririnig na naghaharutan or bigla na lang huminto ang pag-iingay. It means pala na may ginagawa nang kababalaghan.

Like one night, while I was busy preparing dinner, one of the twins went to me and told me that something terrible happened. When I went to our room, this is what I saw...

OMG talaga! Nilabas yung mga damit sa cabinet namin! Minsan talaga feeling ko matatanggalan na ako ng turnilyo sa ulo eh. Hahaha!

Moustache!

One homeschooling day, my kids and I were having fun. My son, Ian, suddenly wanted to draw a moustache on my face. He said that he wanted to see how I look like with a moustache. Since we are using washable markers, I obliged.

Do you want to see how I looked with a moustache on???

Tada....

Ok ba? Ampogi ko ba? Hahaha!

My learnings that day...

Always have fun with my children and unleash the child in me once in a while!

Ang saya lang talaga. Ang sarap pagmasdan ng tawanan ng mga anak ko. I'm sure that they will store this moment in their memory bank. Minsan talaga, dapat hindi tayo laging serioso. Kung baga, let loose lang minsan. Ako kasi, sa dami ng iniisip ko na gagawin ko, nakakalimutan ko na magrelax relax minsan. =)

Kulilits Moments: Curious Minds

Wow! It has been almost 6 months since the last time I blogged. Sobrang busy na talaga. So sorry!With four kids plus a hubby without a household help, sobrang hahanapan na lang talaga ng time to blog.

Anyway, gusto ko lang naman ishare sa inyo ang conversation naming ng mga kulilits last night. Sobrang curious nila talaga. Yung mga tanong pa nila yung tipong hindi ko pa kayang i-explain ngayon since they are just 5 years old. Haayyysttt...

So here it goes...

Chris: Mommy, is daddy really an actor?
Me: Hmmm... yes! He has a movie. (ito yung movie na naging extra lang si hubby... Hahaha!)
Chris: What was the title of the movie again?
Me: I Love You Goodbye
Ian: Why do you say I love you to goodbye?
Me: It's just the title of the movie anak.
Chris: Can we watch it?
Me: Hmmm... you can only watch the scene where daddy is.
Ian: Why can't we watch the whole movie mommy?
Me: Because there are scenes that you can't watch.
Chris: Why?
Doc Padu: Because it is not yet appropriate to your age.
Ian: Is there kissing like in Spiderman?
Me: Hmmm... yes...
Chris: Why is kissing yucky? Why do you need to cover our eyes? Well, can we watch it with daddy and just cover our eyes if there are kissing.
Me: No! Just the scenes where daddy is.
Chris: Why? I want to watch it!
Me: Because it is for adults only.
Chris: Why only for adults? Why can't we watch it?
Me: Ang kulit mo ha! Sobra kang curious! When you become a teenager your daddy will talk with you about it. For now, you are too young for those things.
Chris: Why? Because when we are going to be a teenager, we are going to love a girl?
Doc Padu: What love? You study first and learn to earn a living!

Hahaha! Pero mahaba pa talaga yang conversation na yan eh. Ang kulit ng kambal. Ang daming tanong. Hindi ko masagot ng diretso na may sex scenes dahil alam ko na tatanungin ako kung ano yun at hindi pa ako ready sagutin o pag-usapan yun. Besides, gaya nga ng sinabi ko kanina, they are just 5 years old!!!

Kayo mommies, ano bang advice ang maibibigay niyo sa akin? Paano niyo sinagot ang mga tanong na ganito ng kids niyo? Pashare naman please...

My Children: Blessing and Gift from God

In the Bible, it is written in Psalm 127:3 that children are a blessing and gift from the Lord. That is really true and I can attest to that! =)

To give you a brief background, my husband and I were having a hard time conceiving during our first few years as a married couple. It came to the point that we had ourselves tested which made us somehow lose our hope of having a child because we found out that I have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and hubby has a low sperm count.

Then on our fourth year as a married couple, a BIG surprise came. I couldn't believe it that we were already pregnant not only with one but two babies. Alam niyo yun, sobrang nakakaiyak kasi we were only asking for one but God gave us two kaagad unexpectedly because, honestly speaking, we weren't trying anymore. And guess what? They came out on February 1. A perfect gift for our 5th year wedding anniversary.

For our next baby naman, come what may na ang thinking namin because I'm not sure again if I could still conceive kasi nga hirap kami gumawa before. Surprisingly, after 2 years, we became pregnant again. We were really hoping for a baby girl para sana quota na dahil nga tumatanda na kami. But I think God has another plan for us that's why he gave us another boy. And guess what? He came out on December 16. A perfect Christmas gift to us!

For our "last" baby ("last" kasi di pa sure kung last na talaga. LOL!), medyo napaaga kasi ang dating niya. Pangit man pakinggan, siya ay unplanned. Ayaw ko pa sana sundan si Christoff eh kasi wala pang 2 y/o. Iniisip ko kasi na baka di ko siya masyadong matutukan or baka mabale wala ko dahil busy ako sa pag-homeschool sa twins tapos siyempre ang baby alagain din. Pero siyempre, sino naman ako para magreklamo di ba? Ang baby blessing yan. Malay natin, maging future president yan o di kaya ang maging suwerte sa buhay namin. Anyway, our last baby is finally a girl. Katuparan din ng wish namin mag-asawa. And guess what? She came out on October 22. Of course, a perfect birthday gift for me. And hindi lang yun, magkabirthday pa kami!

Di ba ang ganda ng mga birthday nila? Laging may special occasion na katapat. =)

Kulilits Moments: Halo Halong Usapan with the Twins

Scenario 1: Why Handsome?

Me: Ian, why are you so handsome? Who do you look like? Mommy or daddy?
Doc Padu (butting in): Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!
Ian: Mommy... When I grow up, I want to be like Papa G...
Me: Why not like daddy?
Ian: Because daddy is FAT!

O di ba honest si Ian? Di talaga marunong magsinungaling ang mga bata eh. Hahaha!


Scenario 2: Chris Bolero

Chris talking to Mama G...

Chris: You know what Mama G?
Mama G: What?
Chris: My favorite lola is Lola Es and my favorite mama is Mama G!

Bolero talaga si Chris ano? Marunong magplay safe!


Scenario 3: Chris Makalola

When we were in Disney Sea, Chris saw a hotdog stand...

Chris: Mommy, I'm hungry...
Me: We have a baon here. What do you want?
Chris: Hotdog sandwich...
Me: We have a baon. Just eat your baon.
Chris: Mommy, where is Mama G?
Me; She's at the apartment.
Chris (crying): I want Mama G!

O ha! Biglang namiss si Mama G! Alam kasi niya na di siya uubra sa akin eh, kaya si Mama G ang hinahanap niya. Hahaha!


That's it for now guys... Ipon muna ulit ako... =)

We Have A Muse!

"Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart."

                                                                                                Psalm 37:3-4

Finally, we have a muse!!!

This is the greatest blessing of all kahit unplanned! Haha! Sa wakas, we are going to have a baby girl! May prinsesa na ako! May maynika na ako! At higit sa lahat, may tagapagmana na ako! Hahaha!

Actually, hindi naman ako kinakabahan sa gender nung una kasi ang lakas talaga ng pakiramdam ko na girl na. But still, I need to confirm di ba? Ang saya saya talaga namin! Lalong lalo na si hubby, dahil may kakampi na raw siya. Ang boys kasi puro mommy eh. This time around, may pupulupot na sa kanya. Hehehe!

The big question is...

Ipapasara ko na ba ang factory???

Well, hindi ko pa masagot eh! Undecided pa ako. Kung baga 50-50 pa. Mahabang diskusyon pa yan kay hubby eh. Kasi if we decide na magpaligate na ako, there's no turning back na. What if in the future, gusto pa pala namin magkababy di ba? Eh di laking sisi ko kung sakali. If ever naman na hindi ako magpapaligate muna, paano ang control? Ayaw ko naman (and hubby too) magpills. Withdrawal? Mahirap na... Mandaraya minsan si hubby eh kaya nga nabuo ang prinsesa eh. Hahaha! Condom? Ewan ko lang kay hubby kung type niya. Hahaha! Abstinence? Mukhang malabo! Hahaha! So bahala na, pag-uusapan na lang namin ng masinsinan ni hubby. =)

SEPANX

Ang separation anxiety, normal sa mga kids yan lalo na during first day of school. Pero in my case, never ko na-experience sa twins na magkaroon sila ng separation anxiety. I dunno... Maybe they are secured enough or maybe medyo maaga sila nagmature at naging independent.

And guess who had separation anxiety???

It's ME!!! Hahahaha!!!

Nakakatawa pero totoo. It manifested last weekend.

Here is the kwento:

Last Saturday, after Church, while eating our dinner...

Ian: Mommy, I want to sleepover at Mama G's house?
Mama G: You want to sleep with me, Ian?
Ian: Yes!
Mama G: Anak, matutulog daw si Ian sa amin?
Me: Are you sure Ian?
Ian: Yes!
Me: Make sure that you really want to sleepover at Mama G's house. Remember, no calling us in the middle of the night just to pick you up. Are you really sure you want to sleepover?
Ian: Yes! I want to sleep with Mama G.
Me (to hubby with a sad face): Be, iniiwan na tayo ng anak natin...
Doc Padu: Laughed out loud
Me: Bakit mo ako tinatawanan? Anong nakakatawa dun?
Doc Padu: Ikaw pala ang may separation anxiety eh, hindi ang anak mo!


Anuvayan! Parang ang bilis ng panahon. My son, Ian, is just 4 years old and he could already manage not to be with us anymore. Parang ang hirap tanggapin ano? Kayo rin ba may SEPANX experience?

Stressful Friday

Homeschooling is not that easy, I tell you. Kaya if you decide that you'll homeschool your kids, dapat buo na talaga ang loob mo and ready ka.

In my case, what make homeschooling more challenging are:

• I homechool twins (and they are both boys) - yes, dalawa dalawa sila that I teach everyday. Minsan sabay, minsan isa isa. It really depends on the subject. Pero take note, dalawa pa lang yan. Soon magiging apat na sila (Christoff and baby no. 4). Pero I know naman na kakayanin ko because I know of some homeschooling families, na more than five silang nag-aaral. Sooner and later naman, I know na magiging magaan na sa akin. Right now, tutok since they are in their preschool years. When they reach gradeschool, most likely, guidance na lang ang gagawin ko.
• I still have a toddler (and soon an infant, again) - that is Christoff! He is really malikot and sometimes tends to be so clingy and demanding. Sabi ko nga eh, talo pa niya yung kambal. When Chris and Ian were 1 y/o, hindi sila ganyan kalikot. Let me say, x2 or x3 siya ng kambal!
• I don't have a househelp - I do everything in the house (except laba't plantsa). Imagine niyo na lang ako na parang trumpo sa umaga because most of the household chores, I do it in the morning while the kids are still asleep.
• I'm pregnant - supposedly, limited dapat ang galaw ko. Pero in my case right now, parang hindi ako buntis kung kumilos. 
• I have a lot of paperworks (accounting for hubby's practice) - need kong tutukan ito. Need ko para sa mga BIR requirements and para sa pagbudget namin.

Actually, we are doing great in homeschooling. Sabi nga ng teacher/consultant during the twins' mid-year assessment, nakakatuwa kami dahil umpisa pa lang success story na. In fact, by next year (April 2015), isasama na ang kambal sa moving up. Meaning, grade 1 na sila at 5 years old pa lang.

Pero sa totoo lang, hindi everyday happy. May araw siyempre na medyo pre-occupied ako sa dami ng iniisip na gagawin ko, minsan not in the mood ako or di kaya yung kambal. Like last Friday, super stressed out ako sa kambal. Bakit kamo? Naku, mukhang hindi husto ang tulog nila at mukhang tinatamad mag-aral. I actually told them na we stop na and we'll just continue it the following day. Pero sila naman ang ayaw mag-stop. They want daw to study pa. Kaya ayun, 4 hours mahigit kami for just 1 subject! Imagine that!!! Tapos, si Christoff sumabay pa! Kung kailan di cooperative ang mga kuya, dun pa nag-ngangangawa at hindi mo alam kung ano ang gusto. Haaayyysssstttt.... 

Literally, I became a MOMSTER that day. Sobrang nanginginig ako sa galit (I'm not perfect, tao lang ako at nauubos din ang pasensya). I know that they know what we were studying that time. They were just pretending na hindi nila alam. Yung tipong, tinatamad mag-isip. Lam niyo yun. At eto pa, nung nagalit na ako ng husto, biglang bumilis ang mga utak! With Chris, in less than 10 minutes, natapos kaagad namin. Then nung tinawag ko na si Ian, ang bilis din then may comment pa siya na "I'm fast in homeschooling!" after namin matapos kaagad. Eto pa ang matindi, nung gabi, nagyaya sila magdraw. So nadatnan sila ng daddy nila na nagdradraw. At etong si Ian, nag-draw ng Spiderman then i-spell daw niya ang Spiderman and he'll write it down sa drawing niya. Ayun nga, ginawa niya mag-isa. Nag-spell mag-isa na mabilis. Sabi ko nga sa daddy nila, "Tignan mo yang anak mo na yan, yan yung lesson namin kanina eh. Kanina, kunwari di alam, tapos ngayon, mag-isang nag-spelling at marunong naman!" 

Anyway, tapos na yun. I hope hindi na maulit ulit dahil nakakasira talaga ng bait eh. I said sorry already to my kids because I lost my patience and yelled at them. They said sorry din to me for not doing well in homeschooling. 

At the end of the day,parang walang naganap na drama, back to our usual selves na kami. Yun naman ang mahalaga eh di ba? At least, alam ko lumipas ang sama ng loob namin sa isa't isa...

I'm Scared to Death Last Friday

Last Friday, I was really scared to death. Sabi ko nga kay hubby, sa tala ng buhay ko dun lang ako natakot ng husto. Iba pala talaga kapag anak mo na ang pinag-uusapan ano?

Ganito kasi yan... Last Wednesday morning, nag-start na magfever si Christoff. We were closely monitoring him and nacocontrol naman namin ang fever niya through paracetamol and wet towel. Then last Friday morning, may swimming lesson ang kambal and mukhang uulan, so I decided to leave him at home na lang tutal naman our plantsadora (Sally) was there to watch over him and he didn't have a fever na naman that time.

For about 1 1/2 hours we were out of the house then when we came back kinamusta ko kaagad si Christoff. Sally told me na inaantok na raw si Christoff and patulog na (Sally was just infront of Christoff sewing something).

Knowing Christoff, nag-rereact kaagad yan sa voice ko kahit ano pang antok niya. So I found it weird na hindi man lang ako sinalubong. I immediately went close to him and called his name. Hindi man lang nagrerespond sa tawag ko ang anak ko and hindi gumagalaw (He was in a curled up position). Kinabahan na ako, kaya kinuha ko siya kaagad. Paghawak ko pa lang, ramdam ko na sobrang inaapoy na sa lagnat si Christoff. Tapos hindi man lang siya gumagalaw. Alam niyo yun, parang tigas na tigas. Nung nakita ko yung legs and arms niya, sobra namang lamig and nangingitim na and nanginginig siya. Kaya dali dali ko siyang inakap para mabigyan ko ng human heat then I tried to keep him conscious. Sobrang natakot pa ako dahil yung eyes niya parang gusto niyang ipikit. Kinausap ko siya ng kinausap na sabi ko don't close his eyes. Then I got a wet towel at pinunasan ko siya.

At eto pa, I tried to keep my calm as much as possible para di ako magpanic. Si Sally ba naman, bigla pa sasabihin na "Ma'am Che, si Christoff, nangingitim na ang labi!" Sino ba naman ang hindi lalo matatakot di ba? Kaya sabi ko  "Wag kang ganyan Sally!" Umiiyak na talaga ako that time. Kung anu ano na ang sumasagi sa isipan ko. Alam niyo yun, sobrang takot na takot ako na baka anong masama ang mangyari kay Christoff.

After ko mapunasan si Christoff, I tried to breastfeed him. Buti naman at nagsuck siya. Medyo nakampante ako dahil nagrespond siya. Then I called na my mom and husband to tell them what was happening that time and to tell them that I'll bring na Christoff to the hospital.

I brought Christoff to Perpetual Help Hospital since yun na ang pinakamatinong hospital na malapit sa house namin. When we were there, when the nurses tried to check his vital signs, umiyak na siya and nanlaban. Dun lang talaga ako nakampante ng todo dahil umiyak siya. Kasi all the time tahimik lang siya eh and walang kibo. Sabi ko nga eh, mas gugustuhin ko pa yung iyak ng iyak kesa yung tahimik lang na di ko alam kung ano na nangyayari sa kanya.

Anyway, they got some blood and urine samples from him para makita yung cause ng fever niya. Ang hirap pala panuorin yung anak mo na iyak ng iyak habang kinukuhaan ng dugo ano? Awang awa ako that time kay Christoff. Buti na lang at magaling yung med tech dahil one shot lang siya.

Moving forward... The doctor was considering if it was just a chill or a seizure (kombulsyon). Hindi ko kasi nawitness kung ano talaga ang nangyari eh. Nadatnan ko na lang na ganun siya. If kombulsyon daw, possible na tapos na yung episode nung nakita ko. At ang weird pa dahil wala man lang nakita sa mga exams na ginawa sa kanya. So possible na viral siya.

Dapat icoconfine siya but hubby decided that we'll just closely monitor him at home. Kaya ayun, that late afternoon, we went out na rin sa hospital.

Guess where we went after? We went to our manghihilot to check if Christoff has a pilay or bati (usog). It turned out na may bati si Christoff. Ang lakas daw ng nakausog sa kanya. Matandang babae daw. I remembered that we were at the football training of the twins the night before and bigla na lang siya nilagnat kinabukasan ng madaling araw. Ewan ko, there's nothing wrong naman siguro kung maniwala kami sa mga faith healers di ba? Anything, gagawin namin, para lang gumaling ang mga anak namin. Kayo ba, do you believe in such things?

Anyway, yun yung happenings last Friday na sobrang nakapagtaranta sa akin. Imagine, for just 1 1/2 hours lang ako nawala, ganun na nangyari kay Christoff. All the while, akala lang ni Sally natutulog si Christoff, yun pala naninigas na. What if nahuli ang dating ko? Buti na lang at nandyan lang si God. May guidance siya. Para bang binulungan ako that time.

Moral of the story: Never ever leave any of my sons if they are sick. Dapat closely monitored talaga! Iba pa rin ang pagbabantay ng ina.

So that's it! Everything is ok now. We had Christoff checked by his pedia and it turned out that he had Roseola. He is back to his normal state now - malikot and matakaw! We really thank God for always being there with us.

Goodnight everyone! =)

I Survived!

Officially, I survived having no helper for one week now! 

Whew! 

Officially, kasi last Monday umalis si Je Ann. Pero technically, 9 days na ako walang helper kasi weekend pa lang last week nasa day-off na siya.

Why siya umalis? Mag-aaral daw siya. That's good for her. Sana nga lang na makapag-aral talaga siya kasi sayang naman di ba kung di matuloy?

Para bang may hugot? Well, meron slight. Haha! Medyo meron kasi kaming issue with her eh kaya good timing din na nag-sabi siya na magpapaalam na siya. Medyo mabilis nga lang, pero why prolong the agony di ba? Ika nga ni Spiderman "Good riddance!". Ok na rin yun, at least umalis siya sa amin na ok kami hindi tulad nung dating experience namin sa helper namin before.

So how am I now? Mahirap ba?

Well, it's not actually mahirap... The right term for it is CHALLENGING! Challenging kasi hindi mo alam ang mood ng mga bata. Hindi enough na may routine ka lang at systematic ka. Masisira at masisira talaga yun kasi napaka-unpredictable ng mga bata. Nandiyan yung ayaw matulog. Nandyan yung tipong napakaclingy. Nandyan yung maya't maya hungry sila. At iba iba pa. Kailangan lang talaga, marunong ka mag-adjust at marunong ka magmulti-task.

Ok naman kami so far. Malinis naman ang bahay at nagagawa naman ang mga dapat gampanan. =) I've experienced it na naman before nung nagvacation ng 3 weeks si Je Ann. Mas-mahirap pa nga noon kasi baby pa talaga si Christoff tapos nagpapagawa pa kami ng bahay. Yun yung time na dala ko yung 3 bata every time mamimili ako ng mga materyales at pupunta ako sa site. At least ngayon, kahit papaano yung kambal nauutusan na at medyo nakakatulong sa akin. On the positive note, training na rin sa kambal yun. At least natututo sila sa mga gawaing bahay.

So yan ang one reason kung bakit hindi ako masyadong nakakapagblog now-a-days. Masyado akong BUSY na ina! Hahaha! Ako ay all-around maid ngayon sa bahay (except of course ang laba at plantsa).

Pagpasensyahan niyo na ako ha kung bihira ako makapagsulat ngayon. I need to prioritize things kasi eh. Basta promise, pag may time, magkwekwento ako sa inyo!

See you around guys!

Celebrity Mom & Huggies Dry Pants #PantsUp PlayDate

Last March 4, I received an email from Celebrity Mom inviting me as a VIP guest on a Playdate. It said there that Ms. Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Celebrity Mom Editor-in-Chief, will be there and a lot of activities are in store for me and my kids.

Since I love to attend an event that would involve my kids, I immediately replied to the email. That is because mag-eenjoy na ako, mag-eenjoy pa ang mga kiddos ko. =)

So there, my 3 kiddos and I attended the "Celebrity Mom & Huggies Dry Pants #PantsUp PlayDate" yesterday at the Gymboree Play & Music, Manila Polo Club. We arrived there early so we were asked to go first to the play area.

Ayun na nga, sugod kaagad ang mga anakis ko! Super nag-enjoy silang tatlo. Takbo dito, takbo doon. Lambitin dito, lambitin doon. Akyat dito, akyat doon. Suot dito, suot doon. Gapang dito, gapang doon. At kung anu ano pa!

Here are their pictures inside the Gymboree play area...

Hindi naman masyadong halata na nag-enjoy sila di ba? Hahaha! Sobra nga akong nag-worry eh kasi baka maubusan sila ng energy dahil after ng event may football lesson pa sila.

Anyway, while we were inside the play area, we were given Huggies Dry Pants and we were asked to wear it to our toddlers. Bakit kamo? They have an IG and FB contest kasi. We were to take photos of our toddlers wearing Huggies Dry Pants and they will choose 2 winners - best photo and most number of likes photo. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to join. olats kasi ako eh, wala akong data plan! Hahaha! Tapos, may free wifi pero hindi naman makapagnet. Boo talaga! Tapos, I tried to turn on my data sa phone, di pa rin ako makapagnet. Sobrang malas! Sayang ang price. Super galante ng Huggies kasi they gave one month supply of diapers to the best photo and 2 months supply of diapers to the most number of likes photo.

Eto sana ang mga entries ko...

Kung sakali, sa tingin niyo, may pag-asa ba manalo? Hahaha!

After about an hour, they already asked the moms to go to the function room...

Here's the nice table setup...

The event is hosted by Bettina Carlos...

She's a mom of a 4 y/o girl. Hindi halata ano? She hosted the event well and even shared some thoughts as a mom.

Ms. Joji Coloma did the welcome remarks...

And we had a fun chit chat with Ms. Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan (editor-in-chief of Celebrity Mom)...

We were first asked to shoot some questions to her but nobody did. Maybe, we were all starstruck to her. Hehe! But later on, we got engaged.

We learned a lot from her. We talked about many things. Some topics were about sleeping habits of kids, how to deal with picky eaters and bonding ideas. She's really a good speaker. As she speaks, you could see that she's full of wisdom. Mommy peg talaga! =)

During the event, they had games too! Dun na lang ako bumawi since hindi ako nakajoin sa IG and FB challenge. Hehe. By the way, I won 2 games! Yahooooo!

So we went home happily with these...

What's inside?

First Bag: Boxes and plastics of tissues...

I won this from the first game. They showed pictures of 90's toys and you should guess what it is. I guessed one right which is "family computer".

Second Bag: More tissues, wipes, sanitary napkin, socks, back-issues of of Celebrity Mom Magazine

This is their giveaway during the event. Everybody received a loot bag!

Assorted pairs of Burlington socks...

The Twins and I won this from another game. We were given a sock and we have to find its pair which was hidden around somewhere the event place.

And last but not the least, all guests were given a month supply of Huggies Dry Pants...

Di ba ang saya saya? Sabi sa inyo eh. Extraordinary yung araw namin kahapon. Ang dami naming bitbit pauwi! Hehe!

So that's it! The Celebrity Mom & Huggies Dry Pants #PantsUp PlayDate event is truly an afternoon of fun and learning.

Thank you again for inviting us Celebrity Mom and Huggies Philippines!

Kulilits Moments: Pabaon sa Weekend

For a happy weekend, I would like to share you some of our conversations with the Padua twins...

Scenario 1: While Homeschooling

Ian: Mommy, why did Tito Ninong told us that our light saber is not a real light saber?

Me: Who's Tito Ninong?

Ian: The one with a big tummy!

Me: Who is that?

Ian: Tito Ninong Paolo!

Oh di ba? Di talaga marunong magsinungaling ang bata! ***Peace, Tito Ninong Paolo***

Scenario 2: Je Ann Having a Date with Her Boyfriend

Chris: Mommy, I don't want Ate Je Ann to have a date with Chris!

Me: Why?

Chris: Because he is HANDSOME-MA! (read as handsama)

Ang kulit lang eh!


Scenario 3: Usapang Vajajay

Chris: Mommy, can Ate Je Ann see your vajajay?
Me: No anak. Ate Je Ann can't see my vajajay too.
Chris: Who can only see your vajajay?
Me: Ummm... a doctor can see my vajajay (I'm referring to my OB Gyne)
Chris: So daddy can see your vajajay because he is a doctor!
Me (I really don't know what to answer): Ummm... Daddy is a cardiologist. He is a doctor of the heart. He doesn't see a vajajay. But he saw a lot of vajajay when he was still training during his OB rotation.
Ian: I want to be an OB mommy!

Haaayyystttt!!! Ian boy talaga! Natawa talaga ako sa sagot niya eh. Sana talaga di na ako nag-explain pa. Hahaha! Pero ha, hindi ko alam kung bakit masyado silang curious about the vajajay thing. Maybe because nagiging mulat na siguro sila about sexuality.


Scenario 4: Guard of Je Ann

Ian: Mommy, I don't like the boyfriend of Ate Je Ann. I will point a gun on Chris! (The name of Je Ann's boyfriend is Chris)
Me: Hey! Hey! Anak, that is not good! Pointing a gun to other people is not good.
Doc Padu: Yes anak, a gun is not a toy and you are not suppose to point it to other people. Remember that!
Ian: But, I am the guard of Ate Je Ann, right?

Ah... Kaya naman pala. Masyado kami nagpanik ni hubby. Inaassociate lang pala niya ang pagkakaroon ng gun sa guard. But still, at least he knows already that pointing a gun to other people is not good.


Scenario 5: Firing Chris (The Boyfriend of Je Ann)

Chris: Mommy, I will tell Mama G to fire Chris!
Me: Why?
Chris: So that he will not have money and she would not be able to ask Ate Je Ann for a date anymore!

Kawawa talaga yung boyfriend ni Je Ann eh. Masyadong pinag-iinitan ng kambal eh. Na-iimagine ko na kapag babae itong pinagbubuntis ko. Malamang sa malamang, guwardiado ng mg kuya!



Have a great weekend guys!!!

Product Discovery: Adarna Books in Two Languages

One thing that I want my kids to develop is the love of reading. Reading kasi is very beneficial. Aside from broadening one's knowledge, it widens also one's vocabulary. Aside from that, mas ok di ba if you see your kids spend time with books rather than video games during their spare time?

Anyway, last Thursday, hubby and I attended a parenting seminar sponsored by The Master's Academy. At the conference, there were a lot of booths selling educational tools, toys, books, educational plans, etc. Hindi ko na actually pinansin yung ibang booths, I just went to Adarna Publishing booth and checked out there books.

Ang gaganda their books and not that expensive. Ang ganda kasi well illustrated and the stories teaches something. Alam niyo yun, hindi lang basta story pero may something na itinuturo sa kids. Tapos ang bumenta talaga sa akin is that they have story books in 2 languages - Filipino and English! Ang galing di ba? Hindi ko na kailangan mahirapan magtranslate. Need ko rin yan sa kambal para matuto ng Filipino language since their mother tongue is English.

So there, I bought seven books for the twins. Each book is priced at P70.00 na lang from P79.00. Kung pwede lang eh, binili ko na lahat pero siyempre we have to prioritize other things.

Here are the books that I bought:

Mario's Special Day...

Isang Mayang Uhaw...

Si Pilandok at ang Manok na Nangitngitlog ng Ginto...

Si Pilandok sa Kaharian sa Dagat...

Si Pilandok, ang Bantay ng Kalikasan...

Si Pilandok at ang mga Buwaya...

Si Pilandok Sa Pulo ng Pawikan...

I actually started reading some of the stories to the twins and I could say that they like it so much. I really hope that someday I could see them reading a lot of books! =)

I'm Preggers... AGAIN!!!

During the past few days, hindi talaga ako mapakali. Di pa kasi ako nagkakaroon and I'm scared na baka buntis ako. Scared ako kasi, honestly speaking, ayaw ko pa sana sundan si Christoff. Why? Feeling ko di pa ako prepared to have a new one and parang naaawa ako kay Christoff dahil baka hindi ko siya masyadong mapansin since yung attention ko more on sa twins (I'm homeschooling them) and to the new baby.

Si hubby naman, medyo relaxed lang. He's not taking seriously all my worries. Like na lang, for example, my text message to him last February 23...

O di ba parang mag-jowa lang ang peg ni hubby. May nalalaman pang siya ang bahala magsabi sa parents ko at pananagutan niya. Abnoy lang talaga eh. Haha! Pero I talked to him and told him my thoughts about having a new baby. Ayun, dun na nagsink in sa kanya kung bakit worried na worried ako.

Anyway, until yesterday, March 3, di pa rin ako nagkakaroon. Kulit ako ng kulit kay hubby na bumili na ng pregnancy test kit. Ayaw naman bumili, sabi ng sabi na "hindi, magkakaroon ka na niyan." Then, I made fun na lang out of it. Sabi ko, ano kaya if I'm preggy nga, kung sakali ano kaya ang magiging gender sa Chinese gender calendar...

photosource

Hala! At first, na-upset naman ako, kasi sabi BOY daw since my age now is 34 and month of conception is February. Then, I read somewhere that I should make sure that my age should be my Chinese age. Ayun, nagcompute na ako ng Chinese age ko and it turned out na 36 ako dapat. Then I rechecked the Chinese gender calendar, at sa wakas, GIRL na raw. I told hubby about it, sabi ko sa kanya, if totoo nga ang Chinese gender calendar at kung girl na, pwde na rin na preggy ako. Hahaha!

So today, as usual, hindi pa rin ako mapakali so I decided to buy two pregnancy test kits para matapos na ang pag-iisip ko.

I tested twice this morning, and yes, I'm PREGGERS again...

I'll just have an ultrasound on the third week of March to confirm my pregnancy and to make sure that the baby is ok.

Well, nandiyan na yan... It's a gift and blessing from God. Hindi naman kami bibigyan ng isa pang anak kung hindi namin kayang ihandle di ba? Si God lang ang nakakaalam niyan. Maybe He has plans... Parang noon, kaya pala di muna Niya kami binigyan ng anak dahil ayaw Niya ako mahirapan since hubby is just a training doctor that time. Tapos nung binigyan na Niya kami ng anak, dalawa pala kaagad so bawing bawi yung 4 years na hinintay namin.

Anyway, boy or girl man (pero sana girl na para quota na), I'm wishing for another healthy and safe pregnancy. =)

Ian and Chris' 4th Birthday Celebration

It was Ian and Chris' birthday yesterday. Ang bilis talaga ng panahon. Parang kailan lang, we were just waiting for a baby. Then after 4 years of marriage, we were pregnant with twins, tapos ngayon 4 years old na sila. Haaaayyyy buhay nga naman.

We had a simple and intimate celebration yesterday. Nung una, I was just planning to buy food na lang for their handa. You know, less preparation and pagod. At dahil may pagkamasukista ako, it turned out na ako na lang ang nagluto ng lahat except for the cake, of course. Hehe!

Here were the handa of the twins:

Cakes from Daisee Bakeshop...

Pansit bihon...

Steamed Lapu Lapu...

Buttered steamed vegetables...

Stir fried kangkong with fried tofu...

Salmon belly with butter garlic sauce...

Turbo chicken...

Here are my family and best friend celebrating the twins' special day...

My parents, brother and his girlfriend with the boys...

Our family picture...

With Uncle Francis, Kuya Bimbo and Ai...

The effort was worth it seeing my boys happy! =)