My Little Man

I was at Migo's TKD practice today. It's been a while since I last tagged along. But I make sure I always go to his tournaments. Might I mention here in this blog, for the record, that his last fight last November 14 in Cabanatuan City earned him a Gold medal. Me and hubby are mighty proud. He's become so much better in his sport that hubby and I feel it is something he is destined to do.

But I digressed.

(Side story. Every day, when he is picked up by his school service, I take him by his hand and we kiss goodbye. He steps inside the van, sits, looks back at me standing in front of the house and we always, always blow each other kisses. Yes, in plural, not just once.)

So today, at practice, I was watching him intently as their team was lining up for warm-ups. He was standing at attention then looked my way. When our eyes met, I blew him a kiss. Unexpectedly, he made a face at me. He scratched his head and looked at me as if he can't believe what I just did. I can almost hear his thought bubble, Mom I'm supposed to be tough here! Stop blowing me kisses cause it's not macho! My hubby, who saw this silent exchange, laughed.

Sigh. He's a little man now.


Over the past few months, he grew 3cm taller. Pretty soon, according to his coach, he will be elevated to Level 1 from his present Level 0. Pretty soon too, he said, if he gets consecutive golds in the next few tournaments, there will be protests that he leave Novice category and go to Advance. I noticed too that everytime we hug and he lunges towards me, I feel him way heavier and stockier. His vocabulary is wider too. I am surprised at the words he use in his daily conversations, both in English and Tagalog. His artworks are also improving. (He got a Best in Arts Merit Card, btw, today in school.) His appetite has grown. And he told me today that he wants us to move to a new house by the time he's in 6th Grade. So where did that come from, huh?

My boy is a little man now. But I do know we will still secretly blow kisses at each other. Maybe from a distance, as he accepts an Olympic trophy or something. (Fingers crossed.)

10 Reasons (Side B)

I've decided, after my previous blog entry, that I have to make another list. Of the opposite. And since I did not complete the 10 reasons why I love going to work, I expect that this time, I may have more than 10 reasons why I hate going to work. So here goes.

10. Traffic. Yes, I live in the outskirts of Metro Manila. It takes me 45 to 60 minutes to commute to work depending on how heavy the traffic is in EDSA. If by car, I can take alternate route in the sidestreets of Caloocan and make it in less than 30 minutes, but unfortunately, I still do not have my much coveted dream vehicle.

9. Going home at night. There are days when just as I arrive at work, I wish it's time to go home.

8. Aero at 6:30 in the morning Tuesdays and Thursdays. Jogging/brisk walking at 6a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Would rather do this than commute to the office at these early hours.

7. What to wear, AGAIN?

6. Missing Facebook and Farmville. (All social networking sites and games sites are blocked by a firewall at the office. Boo!)

5. Knowing (at the back of my mind) that others are paid better for doing nothing or not doing their job well. (At the risk of my boss and his relatives reading this, may I say, Sir, with all due respect, that it sucks.)

4. Annoying people. Why the heck did they hire such people? (Phew)

3. Would rather sleep. (Needs no explanation.)

2.

1. Hubby or Migo or Julla whining Mommy don't go to work. That always always does it, I'm off for the day.

When i think about it, I guess it's not so bad going to work. Coz I actually had a hard time completing 10 slots.

10 Reasons

It's a Monday and finding no valid reason not to go to work, I carefully removed my young daughter's leg haphazardly thrown over mine, dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. I'm going to work, I told hubby. He didn't look surprised. I guess he expects me to do so after having used up all of my SLs for the year. And it's only November. (And I'm saving my last 3 VLs for December.)

Anyway, I'm here at work now, finding nothing important to do but wait it out for my samples from suppliers for the upcoming fashion show.

Blog is what I'll do for now. And to start myself rolling for the week, here are 10, not necessarily good reasons, why I love my work. Yes, TEN. So help me God.

10. I get fixed monthly income. I don't know if my pay is above, at par or below industry standards but as long as I get that bi-monthly deposit in my atm, I think I'm quite fine.

9. I believe I'm good at what I do. After years of seeing, breathing and living garments I think I can safely say that.

8. Up until now, at 62, my Mom works. She still goes to the office everyday, even on Saturdays, sometimes stays late to finish up, never misses a workday unless she is confined in the hospital or there is an important family activity that she has to attend. She doesn't complain and in fact, tells me often that she is always thankful that she has work to do. I CANNOT, in my right mind, tell her I don't want to work.

7. Surprise perks. I never really know what to expect next.

6. Friends. The people around me are a source of mental and creative stimulation. Well, not all of them. I am surrounded by young people who update me with whatever I am not exposed to but should know, being in this industry. I become and stay young.

5. Free fashion advice. And the resources too.

4. Good bosses. Generally speaking.

3.

2.

1. I don't have a choice. I was born to work. I can't stand not being productive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, so after a couple of hours, I can't complete the list. So I'll leave it at that. Have a gLeeful week ahaead!

Walk, jog, run!

So hubby and I started brisk walking again this morning. We actually started doing this way back in August but when we discovered aero every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, we stopped. Aero we did but it's gotten boring now coz the routine has become too easy and it hasn't evolved yet due to the fact that most of our co-members are 50y/o and above, so the choreographer has that to consider.

I have since lost 5-7 pounds though and am (I think) close to achieving one of my 2009 New Year's goals which is to gain back my pre-pregnancy figure. I still have some love handles and lotsa flab but I'm feeling way better about myself than 6 months back.

Life in general has changed a lot over the last 6 months since my last weblog.

Migo has started taekwondo lessons last summer and has developed way, way much. Last Saturday (November 14), he won his first Gold medal at the Region 3 Championship held in Cabanatuan City. Hubby and I were so proud. And so was my Dad and older brother who were there with us. My 2 nephews Gelo and Tyrone are attending tkd classes now.

Julla started school (nursery) too 6 months ago. She's turning into a wonder child, in my opinion. (Hur-hur!) She likes to sing and dance a lot. Singing involves also creating her own lyrics based on whatever she feels like talking/singing about. Dancing, on the other hand, is a lot of calisthenics and body-bending that she herself choreographs. We're thinking of getting her involved too in tkd or ballet. My dad says yes to tkd. Mom says ballet. Oh, and my dad says violin lessons too. Me and hubby, well, we'd let her do whatever she wants when she's 4 years old.

I like to have cool kids with cool things to do.

Hubby and I. We're ok. Some potholes here and there in our sweet life together but I can say we're becoming stronger as a pair of nitwits trying to survive this l.i.f.e.

So there. Hope I can start blogging regularly again. Thanks to Sir Jojo. :)

it's the second half of the year

seems too long ago since the last blog entry, and the one before that. but things seem to be looking up for these dwellers.

will update again when i have the time.

time flies

last post was in november 2008. it's april 2009 now.

lots of things have happened. more downs than ups but i survived. thank god.

downs:
1. the almost breakup. twice. last october and this february. i think i don't wanna document it anymore so let's just leave it at that.
2. mom and hubby not getting along at the start of the year.
3. migo's grades gone from bad to worse towards the end of last school year

ups:
- reconnecting with my soul twin because of #1.
- things are getting better this month regarding #1.
- the vacation at The Penthouse last wednesday to sunday.



recent downs:
- today julla is with me in the office. lost the nanny again. last week, she was diagnosed with primary complex. after the whole household underwent xray examinations, (as recommended by the pulmo-pedia to trace the cause of her sickness)we found out nanny has a spot in the left lung. so off she goes.

very recent ups:
- kuto is going....hell, yeah! oh but i don't wanna rejoice yet.
- migo taking taekwondo lessons. he started last tuesday. second class later today.

more thoughts next entry.

ek with migo tomrrow

i told migo just now that he and i are going to enchanted kingdom tomorrow. it’s a supposedly all-expenses paid trip for me and several officemates largely because of our participation in the F&H streetcast (fashion show) our company held few weeks back. it’s sort of a reward for the efforts we’ve put in to make the show a success. anyway, i asked today if i could bring my son along while i will shoulder his expenses for the trip. i figured i wouldn’t be enjoying a trip to EK without my kids tagging along. oh my, age is simply catching up on me! but then again, i guess i just always have that guilty feeling whenever i enjoy myself without them. it makes me happier if they enjoy it with me

anyway, when i told him, migo was immediately ecstatic. but i told him that it will be only just the two of us to which he sadly replied, “ ayyy…gusto ko kasama si julla tsaka si daddy.” my heart swelled right then and there. i can’t help but be touched by his overt disappointment at not being with his sister and dad at such a supposedly fun family activity. i am sad too, to think that I would honestly, actually enjoy it more if we went as a family.

so i told migo that it has to be only the two of us because if we brought Julla, we would have to worry about carrying her around and i won’t be able to take care of him since my focus would be more on julla. that more or less, convinced him. so he consented to go. just the two of us...with my officemates, of course.

tooth to go

migo's first milk tooth separated itself from his lower gums last friday, 19 september. as of today, a permanent tooth is peeking from where it was and another one behind the milk tooth beside it.

another milestone in my motherhood. my first born is growing out his milk teeth and getting the ones he'll be using the rest of his life. i don't know why i sigh at the thought. it makes me want to hold time still for a while and cherish these moments when he's young, innocent and so, so dependent on his mom. and i had to assure and reassure him a couple of times that it was just normal, that he was going through what every boy and girl his age does before they grow up to be big girls and boys.


and i? time will come that an older mother will tell me how, like the milk teeth, it is normal that he will eventually break away from my grasp. and like migo, i will have to be assured and reassured that every mother goes through that stage when her son becomes an adult.

sigh.

for the meantime, i am enjoying this present time.

nothing

it's been 3 months. it's never been the same week after week after week. it started the week after i recovered from my sickness and was discharged from the hospital. thousands wasted. went to naught. when will it ever end? will it ever end?

nature friendly me

chanced upon this in one of the websites i frequently visit at work. riding on the environmental awareness bandwagon, i share the sentiments of this bag.

makes sense, di ba lah?

A Love Letter from Migo

Front

Back

julla is sick, and so's the rest of us

julla is sick again. :( last time was the end of july which is about four weeks ago when our whole family got sick.

last night when i got home, she has 38.6 temp. she was coughing like there's gallons of phlegm inside her chest and she was sniffing all night. we had to put her on the "usok machine" this morning so her breathing could at least improve. we bought her antibiotics before i went to work today, the same one given her by her pedia last month.

i have colds as well. cesar too. and migo has cough and colds.

i don't like to think that eversince we moved to the new home, the family got sickly. it seems that way but it's also that time of year when everybody gets sickly, isn't it?

i'm goin home early.

lists

fun stuff i think i'm missing: my boss' birthday party last wednesday, my boss' daughter's baptismal tonight which i already know i won't be attending, opportunity to travel and meet more people, that honda crv, that iphone and ipod, that digital slr camera and all the other techie stuff i so want.

so let me go on with my wishlist. coz this blog entry is turning out to be just that. a home makeover would be really cool. a brand new laptop with broadband connection so i can take it and use it wherever i go. did i mention that crv? or any car for that matter as long as it's mine and i can use it anytime i want. kenneth cole watch but i think the one i want is no longer available. a trip anywhere where i can relax without worry.

and let me go on about my what-ifs. what if i married my high school boyfriend who's now a millionaire? what if i ran away to iloilo with my spring fling? what if i didn't stay too long at my previous job? what if i pursued an advertising career?

hmp...i'll get back to this later. brunch is served.

sound decision

i've been feeling a lot of mixed emotions lately. it seems i am trying my darnedest to cope with negative situations but only end up stressing myself more. my friend andre told me to "pray for guidance to come up with a sound decision." i do. i pray a lot. not in the religious way but in a way that i talk to god in my head and i know he listens to me and he talks to me...but i can't seem to get his message. or am i too caught up in everything that i fail to hear him. if i could just sit still......and listen....

for the record, yesterday migo participated in the school's quiz bee. he didn't win anything but i told him that to be part of the 15 contestants out of 90+ students was an achievement already in itself. he asked me if i am happy with him and of course, i said yes.

while i was bathing him early in the morning, before going off to school, we had this conversation:

me: anak, do you want me to accompany you to your quiz bee or can i go to the office?

(he has been clingy these past months and always, always requests me to stay home and not go to the office)

migo: mommy, just come with me to school and watch me at the quiz bee.
(eyes wide open, begging)

me: ok, but i will lose one day's salary. is that alright?

(i've already used up all my vacation leaves and sick leaves for the year, mostly because of him)

migo: at least, we're together.

that did it. no second thoughts. then he goes:

migo: will daddy get mad if you lose one day's salary?

me: of course not.

he grinned, satisfied with what he heard. i smiled, contented with my decision.

The Coke Effect

Two or so weeks ago, Migo asked me (quite sweetly) if he could drink Pop Cola along with his dinner. Although I was reluctant, I let him because it has been some time since he had softdrinks and I do want to give in once in a while.

Later, at bedtime, he couldn't sleep. And after dozens of stories & lullabies with no dozing effect, I fell asleep only to realize the next morning that Migo didn't sleep until very, very late.

This morning, after the 9-10am mass, the four of us dropped by SM to get Jollibee meals for Migo and Julla (which include regular size cups of Coke), a McDonald's Quarter Pounder for Cesar and a caramel sundae for me.

Back home, after literally devouring our Sunday brunch, at around 12 noon I told the kids it's time for an early afternoon nap.

Well, here's what happened....

I will have to keep this in mind from now on:
Never, ever give the kids Coke or any stimulating drink BEFORE going to sleep.

10 things to be thankful for despite getting sick for a week

10. on tuesday, i was at the hospital e.r. getting my blood and urine tested. my temp was 40 degrees, i couldn't sit up and all i could do was lie shivering on the e.r. table. cesar, although he wasn't feeling well too, was with me all this time. my mom was there too.

9. by 5pm, still on tuesday, i was to be confined to rule out dengue. there was no room available, only in the ward. there were still 8 patients waiting for a room. i chose to just go home and wait it out there until somebody checks out. my mom (bless her) who has her ways of getting what she wants, made a quick phone call. in less than an hour, i was being wheeled into room 604 -- private room with cable tv and telephone line. good enough.

8. on thursday, julla and cesar are sick too with fever and coughing. migo was in the pink of health.

7. on the same thursday afternoon, the pedia told us that julla has to be monitored too for dengue. that night, i coughed like crazy. i couldn't lie down flat on my back coz it's causing more cough. i prayed to God, please take away this cough. right after i said that, i took it back. "ok, i'll bare all this coughing, as long as julla gets well." whoever said God doesn't like to bargain? the next day, julla's temp was 37.1 and was playing as if she never got sick.

6. my coughing lasted overnight. at around 4am on friday, i turned on my bed and lay flat on my belly. perfect! the coughing stopped and i was, finally, able to sleep. at 6am, an intern came in to inject antibiotics into my iv so i awoke. she forgot to turn off the lights afterwards. i couldn't regain the sleep i wanted. well, who says you can have everything, huh?

5. friday morning, cesar is more sick than me or julla. but he's resting so he stayed away from the hospital the whole day. i had to content myself with reruns of house, guiness book or world records, numbers and other axn and hbo shows. but i was feeling lots better.

4. a warm bath on saturday morning. (i got sick monday so it's been a while.)

3. friends calling and visiting.

2. valid reason not to go to work. hahahah!

1. hmo took care of ALL my hospital expenses. finally, am well and resting at home on saturday evening. still felt weak but nothing compares to the warm hugs and kisses from my kids. i'm home.

mallrats

it is not often that we go to the mall in the evening. so this is one particular event that needs documentation. we left the house at 7pm and got back at 10pm.

mommy moment

these days i have been battling a dilemma.

migo (the son) has been unusually emotional and clingy. on separate occasions this past month, he told me that i always leave him. that he wants me to fetch him from school. that he wants me to stay home and not go to work. once, when i really didn't go to work, he was so happy to find me at home when he arrived from school.

today is a city holiday (valenzuela day) so he didn't have classes. a few days ago, when it was announced as such, his dad told him that he could go to my office with me (coz he's always been nagging me about bringing him with me to work). but this morning, i had to leave early to catch up on work and just a while ago, when i called home, he cried on the phone because i left him.

if only he knew that what i've always wanted was to stay home and take care of him and his sister. if only i could just quit this job and not have to worry about our daily expenses. if only i could spend more time with them. if only i could.

so here i am, in this place my friend andre calls a rathole. this place where i get my source of income. which provides for the family. for migo's daily expenses.

but not for migo's (and my) source of simple joy.

julla goes to work

little miss chari. boo. julla. 20 june 2008

back online

it's been a month since we transfered to our new home and was not connected to the internet. just two days ago, our connection is on again and i am finally freely able to access anytime i want at home.

things have been quite easier for me this past month. i wish i could say the same for migo. recently, he's been complaining that our new house is too plain, lacks furniture, boring...(well, that was before we got internet access) i told him he only thinks we lack furniture coz he was used to our old place which was very small so it seemed full of furniture. now that we have more space and still the same furniture, it seems a little bare. julla seems to enjoy the new place though. what with lots of floor area to throw around her toys, and lots of people everyday because of our customers. she's getting accustomed to strangers talking to her, making funny faces at her or pinching her cheek.

hubby cesar is a revelation. he's been actively working and giving his all to our new business and i am proud of him. well, he doesn't know that so anyway, maybe i should tell him.

our life changed drastically over the last month. i am hoping and praying it's gearing up for the better. i always knew God did things in His own time. and i am thankful for the graces.