Art in Island

If you like taking pictures, have no qualms in making face in public and have loads of imagination then Art in Island is your place!

Entrance fee is Php 500 but there is a 20% discount on PWD, senior citizens and students. For a group of 20+ entrance fee is only 400. 

I am with a pre schooler so to get back my money's worth, My plan was to snap at all the display 😀 ...but it is an impossible task to coach and request a very hyper and active 5-year old to be still for a moment ... Enough to take a photo! 

My boy had fun. He was so happy with the aquatic display. So happy that he does not want to move to other paintings!

With friend, Coco .

 It took a lot of coaching before we finally move to other "zones" .  By this time he was so thirsty he was asking for water. Good thing there is a small canteen located at the second floor. Fully charged after, he was again game to pose and I was able to capture decent shots!

Tita Ross took this picture. I was holding him the whole time!

A staff approached us and offered to take a picture. 😀 

Thanks Tito Rod for the tripod. He was so amused by it I was able to rest from running around. 

Took us two hours to finish all but when I saw my friends' pictures I realized we missed a lot of good paintings . It's OK! My little man had a blast... :) 

Almost... The whole gang : Tita Runa & fam, Baby Jay and wife, Tita Ross, Tito Rod, Tito Jun & Fam and Sir Tandy and Ma'am Tina

Thanks Sir for making this trip possible.

Enjoy!

 

Jacobo Caleb's 1st Day in Nursery

I do admire my little boy's stubborness. I find it cute that at a very young age he sticks to his belief! Not always though . Today is his first day  and his stand of NO SCHOOl is really trying my patience.

We woke him up early so as not to be late and to give him time to process that today is the BIG DAY!

Dad, lola and I took turn in convincing him how wonderful school will be. Took us forever in dressing him up. 

After much cajoling, we are now in school and I was expecting major tantrum! 

Not sure what happened but after getting out of the car , he took his bag and marched inside school. With us in tow, we followed him and just guided him to the correct room. There was a slight change on room assignment but we were advice beforehand. 

We discreetly left the room and the teacher informed us that they will call us if there's a major issue! We observed outside and saw my little boy enthralled with almost everything! 

After sometime, we saw him took off his shoes and socks, heard him crying and calling for us but my hubby hold my hand and firmly told me, "wait for the teacher."

Peeked again and saw him at the middle!

Well, he's sitting down! Already an improvement. After two hours, we picked him up and we all went home, happy and successful! 9 and a half months more to go. 

Family Day at Burot Beach, Calatagan, Batangas

Left our house at Barangay Lantic, Carmona, Cavite at around 5:13 am. According to Waze we will reach our destination at 7:50 am via Tagaytay-Palico-Calatagan Route. 

Boys still so sleepy!

To save time and maximize trip We had our breakfast inside our car 😄. 

Saw beautiful and unknown trees near Calatagan Airstrip. We had a minute stop over to capture its beauty.

Finally we are close to our destination. Burot Beach is still undeveloped, way leading to it is dirt road but no complaints (except for our driver who worry for the tires 😊)

We were welcome by beautiful fire trees , mangrove and boats. 

At last! Our place. 

Entrance fee is only php65 for day trip. Since we have a tent, we did not rent anymore (rent is 300php) .

Boys will be boys. Though both of them got cut by the sharp rocks, they still had a blast! 

Meeting my NF Friends for the 1st Time @ Kcat's May Birthday Project (Philippine General Hospital)

I knew I wanted to join Kcat's May Birthday Project the very first time I saw her post. After my boss approved my VL, I asked my friends/supporters "donation" for this activity and we came up with (2.5KPhp, thanks to Ross, Che, Raqs, Reena, Jay-R, Greg, Claire and Pete-Uh).

I was so nervous in meeting my NF Friends who till today has only been my FB friends :) . Good thing they are all so nice and friendly.

Marlene, Roland, Almir and Cecile

We gathered at PGH Quad, (around 3:30 pm)  for last minute instructions, handing out of flyers and of course group picture.

The beneficiaries are the patients from Pediatric Wards and the Neuro Ward.

The goodies :)

This is the very first time I participated a gift giving event. I was so excited at first. I did not expect the overwhelming sadness I felt when I saw babies on incubators and kids lying on  hospital beds. Talking to their parents, seeing the hopes in their eyes that someday things will get better and hearing their faith in God made me want to cry. As a Mom, I can feel their pain. Saying a little prayer I got out and calm myself .  I was there to make them happy and not spread negative vibes :)

Below is my favorite picture. Everybody is happy:) All have smile on their faces. This is the highlight . This is how I will remember Kcat's birthday project.

Party at the corridor.

 

I had a very meaningful and uplifting day. Thanks for the experience Kcat. Count me in for next year's 8th annual gift giving @ PGH.

Chek's battle with NF1

My first born was diagnosed with NF1 when he was two years old ( Dec. 2008). His pediatrician advised us to consult a dermatologist due to some skin rashes. After a long look at Chek’s back which was peppered with café -au -lait spots , the dermatologist told us, that Chek might have NF. She immediately advised us to see an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist confirmed our fears. He detected Lisch  nodules. After that, his pediatrician advised us to have a yearly check up on Chek’s eyes and to undergo CT scan to check if there are tumors growing inside his body. She also advised us to be more sensitive on Chek's body, should always be on look out for  "bumps" growing and have it checked ASAP.

Year after year we had Chek’s eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (results are all OK)  but put on hold the CT scan procedure. Since he is still a kid, doctors informed us that sedation is required for this procedure.  We initially kept this a secret. Somehow sharing this  means accepting all the possibilities this disorder brings (cancer, paralysis, disfigurement, blindness and learning disability.) Prayers and the thought that God will never leave Chek strengthen us. We also stopped researching about NF. The more we are informed the more scared we become. My husband and I  cried to sleep every night the whole Dec. 2008. We never felt so helpless. When we look at Chek, we saw a boy full of promise but somehow due to NF1 his future seemed so unclear.

Chek when he was diagnosed with NF1

Today, Chek ( 6) is a very active healthy boy. He is enrolled in a mainstream school.  He is now starting to realize that he is different from other kids. He is starting to compare himself and will tell us that he will look more handsome if he does not have the black black  marks (his term for cafe au-lait spots). The mark is the least of our worries. Our fear lies on what is growing inside his body. 

Last August 13, 2012, we visited his neuro-pediatrician at Manila Adventist Medical Center and Colleges at at Pasay City. We commuted from our house in Cavite to Pasay.Rode on a trycicle, jeepney, bus and a train to reach his doctors' clinic. The train ride was the highlight of Chek's day.

It also released the tension in me. Seeing him so happy gave me a positive vibe on the impending doctors' diagnosis :). Her doctor advised us to have an MRI and EEG immediately. The following day, I prioritized his EEG and MRI schedule at Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang which is more convenient for  us. August 15 is his schedule for EEG and his appointment on his pedia-anesthesiologist who will assist him on his MRI ( August 22, 2012).

Preparations for Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Sleep Deprived EEG-EEG recording up to 1 hour (Awake and Sleep EEG)

1. Shampoo hair; do not put oil, gel, spray net, pomade, etc

2. Eat full meal.

3. Avoid coffe, tea, cocoa, chocolate and cola.

4. Sleep late at night before the procedure . (sleep @ 12 midnight, wake up early @ 4 am)

5. As much as possible avoid taking even a short nap from 4 am till the sceduled time.

Our schedule was at 8:30 am. We were at the hospital as early as 8:15 am but before the procedure started Chek blurted out that he is very hungry. Ate Mira advised us to feed Chek first, (second breakfast at hospital cafeteria) and the procedure started at 9:29. I prayed that Chek would sleep without taking any medicine and he did after two rounds of his favorite bedtime story the three little pigs (my version) and dad's 5 little monkeys story.

Sleepy dad and hyper Chek, waiting for EEG to start

Colorful Electrodes

Ate Ice and Kuya Vic, removing the electrodes.

Kuya Vic said, you look like Goku! Chek replied Goku Martin? hahaha

Met his pedia-anesthesiologist @ 11 am.
Had blood extraction @ 1pm (creatinin test for kidney function assessment).

Waiting for mommy to submit and finish MRI requirement @ 2 pm.

Well behaved boys @ Radiology waiting area

Treat Chek (ride on a race car) before going home. Trying to inject fun in an otherwise somber mood in the days activity.

You are so brave  Kuya! After the painful procedure and tiring day, you still managed to smile.
You will never be alone. Family and friends are praying for your health.
God will continue blessing you.

I love you, forever!

Aug. 22, 2012

Pictures taken last Aug. 22, 2012 on Chek's MRI.
Both of us (B and I) are so stressed not because we don't  trust  the doctors but because anything can happen. Chek was sedated because he really need to lie still.

Dad, holding Chek's hand.Chek did not struggle when the needle is being inserted.

This goes inside the IV (for sedation)

Meds are taking effect.

MRI. I was advised to go to  "waiting area". Apparently this room is off-limits to moms :)

Trying to pass time.

Off to recovery room.

All the staff were super nice to us. But even if they are the nicest doctors, anesthesiologist, nurse and lab technician, I still don't want to meet them any time soon :(

Chek's MRI result is free from tumors!Thank God. We are also thanking HIM for making kids naturally resilient. Chek's coping mechanism is truly remarkable...