An Indescribable Feeling

I was told this morning that one of my friends at the office had undergone a D & C the other day. D & C is acronym for dilation & curettage or in Filipino term “raspa”.  She was pregnant and having the said procedure only means that something went wrong with her pregnancy.


Hearing of news like this only reminds me of my own loss just early this year. 

I was 7 weeks pregnant then when I experienced a little spotting, just a little spot of brownish discharge. At first I didn’t mind it because I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort but when the discharge continued for another day (although it is only in very small quantity), I contacted my obstetrician and asked if it was normal, she told me that it’s not normal and I have to see her for a check-up.

When I arrived at the doctor’s clinic, my doctor instructed me to have a transvaginal ultrasound so she will know the condition of my baby. I complied and went to a nearby clinic for the ultrasound. During the ultrasound, the doctor told me that my baby has no heartbeat…..what???.... I don’t know how to react because it was the first time I heard of such a finding and I thought my OB will just give me a medication or supplement and everything will be alright. I have two normal pregnancies before and I never thought of having any problems with my third.

                                               My Ultrasound result

I went back to my OB’s clinic and gave her the report of my ultrasound. There, she explained to me that I have a missed abortion. There’s nothing more she can do but to remove the content of my uterus so as to prevent an occurrence of infection which will put me in danger once the infection will spread.

I was shocked at what I heard and I don’t know what to do. I texted my husband and he too was shocked. Just a month ago, we were happy to know that we will have our 3rd child and now….I just can’t describe the feeling.

I was admitted in the hospital and was prepared for a D & C procedure.  It took only less than 30 minutes for the curettage procedure and I was discharged from the hospital after two days confinement.  Physically, I had a quick recovery except for an onset of a high blood pressure two weeks after the procedure. My OB gave me an anti- hypertensive drug and my blood pressure returned to normal after two weeks. Regular monitoring was advised for my blood pressure. Psychologically, I was still devastated after a few months after my miscarriage. I kept on thinking that what happened was my fault, that I did not took care of myself really well that affected my baby’s condition. I blamed myself for what had happened.

It’s been 4 months since the miscarriage happened and I’m thankful that I have moved on. I learned to accept the fact that my 3rd baby is not meant to stay with us and I believe he/she is much better up there. Focusing more on the blessings  that God has already given me (my husband, my children, our relatives and friends), helped me to move on faster.

For my friend, I know, no words can describe how she felt right now but life has to move on. Things do happen that our mind and heart can’t comprehend but God has His plans, He sees the bigger picture…let’s just continue trusting Him.

“Healthy By Choice” by Cynthia Llantada

I was browsing on the bookstore shelves for something interesting to read when I chanced upon this thin, soft bound book entitled “Healthy By Choice” written by Cynthia Llantada.

The author is a breast cancer survivor and what is interesting about her is that she survived the deadly disease without undergoing a chemotherapy or radiation. Yes, you read it right…without chemotherapy or radiation.

So to find out how she did it, I bought the book. I was really intrigued at how she battled cancer without undergoing chemotherapy. This is the first time I heard of a cancer patient who survived the disease without the use of this modern technology.

After reading “Healthy By Choice”, I was really amazed at how Ms. Llantada fought her battle. She is really a fighter and she didn’t let cancer consume her. She did her own research and consulted not only from doctors practicing conventional medicine but also those who practice alternative medicine. She made her choices and she did not let her doctors decide for her. She highlighted the importance of knowing the root cause of her disease which lead to her effective treatment.

Ms. Llantada made me realize that indeed, being healthy is a matter of choice. If we want to be at the prime of our health, we should aim and work for it. Lifestyle modification is required and self discipline is a must.

Family First / Danvil Insurance Maturity Claim

Last March 18, 2010 my insurance policy from Danvil Plans matured. Yes, after 10 years of charging from my credit card, I can now claim my money back with the corresponding interest. Yay.......... it also means I am 10 years older now.

I went to Danvil office at Equitable Bank Tower in Paseo de Roxas, Makati last March 20, 2010 and filed for a Maturity Benefit Claim. They asked me of the following requirements:

a. Duly Accomplished Maturity Claim Processing Form – I filled up this form at their office

b. Certificate of Full Payment – this was printed from their record

c. The original copy of my Family First Future Provider Plan (Face Page only)

d. Original Copy of Policy Contract

e. Statement of Account – this was printed from their record

f. Present two valid ID’s, in my case I presented my company ID and SSS digitized ID.

Of course I had brought all my documents so I was able to give them the requirements that same day.

After receiving all my documents, they gave me a claim form. It is indicated that I can claim the proceeds on May 24, 2010. It’s a 45 working days processing, but the person in charge also told me to make a follow-up on the last week of April.

Fast forward …. I called their office first week of May and the person on the line informed me that my check is now ready for pick-up. Wow, they are fast ha.

I picked-up the check last May 7 and I deposited it in my bank account. By the way, you have to present a cedula (residence certificate) and two valid ID’s upon claiming your check. After 3 days of clearing, I was able to get my money. I was really relieved because I have read some negative feedbacks regarding Danvil and yet I did not bother to withdraw my money.

So this only proves that Danvil is a legitimate insurance company, Danvil is not a scam, it’s just that their way of marketing their product is annoying. I just smile whenever I remember how I was convinced in buying their product.

A Crazy Weekend

Last weekend my husband planned to go to Tagaytay to break-in our car. He is just a new driver, actually he just got his non-professional driver’s license last week. He took a 10 hour driving lesson from A1 Driving School last December, but we only had our car last month.

He was supposed to meet his cousin to accompany him with his first time out of town drive.

For me and my kids, we will just stay at home and enjoy each other’s company. It’s a weekend and it’s our time to have some bonding moments, just play around, watch tv or just listen to my youngest son talking even though sometimes we can’t understand what he is talking about (he’s just 3 years old and he still can’t manage to speak a clear sentence).

Our day should have been perfect when my husband called and said that he had an accident on the road. I was really nervous while he was speaking but was relieved when he told me that everything’s fine, nobody was hurt, it’s just that our car was damaged. I felt a little discomfort thinking that our car was just 3 weeks old, but what can we do, it already happened and I am just thankful that my husband is fine and no one was hurt. Anyway the car is covered by insurance and now we can test the reliability of our insurance company.

After getting the police report needed for the insurance claim, my husband and his cousin still managed to drive out of town but instead of Tagaytay they went North and reached San Fernando, Pampanga. They just ate their lunch at one of the malls there and returned back to Manila.

Back home, I still have my bonding moments with my kids but from time to time I was worried about my husband, negative thoughts just keeps popping on my mind. I was only relaxed when he arrived home safe and sound.

Haaaaay, worries……it really stressed me that day.

Election 2010 Experience - Ususan Taguig

After falling in line for almost 5 hours, thanks God, I finished casting my vote at exactly 12:00 noon.

My feet really ached. I felt like all my strength was taken.....maybe not just because of the long line but because of so much heat...yes, it's really hot. It's good that I brought a jug of water, fan and towel. It really pays to be prepared.

My husband and I arrived at the voting center at around 7:30 in the morning and there are already a lot of people outside and inside the school. You know... typical election where a lot of people are outside the school giving leaflets.

We already know our precinct number because we already searched it on-line (my husband and I have different precinct number), the only problem is that precinct numbers are combined into clusters so we still have to find what cluster number our precincts are located. In fairness, the Comelec posted at the entrance of the school, a directory on the cluster numbering and what building inside the school it is located but since we are not familiar with the school's orientation, we spent some time looking for our voting center (it is really advisable to visit the school where you will be voting, a day before the election).

When I found the room where I was supposed to vote, the line of voters was already long. I traced the end of the line and I found it at the ground floor. Imagine, my voting center is on the 3rd floor and the end of line was on the ground floor....hooh....patience....patience...and more of it.

Because of so much heat and long lines of voters which is very slow moving, some were irritated and started on shouting at some of the volunteers who are watching the lines... it's really hard on the side of the volunteers because there are lots of people who are really hard-headed and wanted to cut in line. In this case, each voter should be very vigilant on his surroundings and should be mindful of the person before and after him, the volunteers can't really check all the time.

All the hardships that we encountered were erased when we had casted our votes and the machine accepted our ballots. Yes!!!!!!!! I accomplished one of my obligations to my country. I love the Philippines and this is one way of showing it. GOD bless the Philippines.

Nail Biting in Children

Nail Biting in Children By Liz Rispin

Many children suddenly develop the habit of biting their nails and as parents it becomes a difficult task to make them get rid of this habit. While this is more common with the school going children, yet many toddlers and preschoolers might also develop the habit of nail biting.
So, if your child has started the habit of nail biting, then you should be rightfully concerned. It is unhygienic and can lead to various infections. A child might develop this habit for various reasons. He might be tensed, internally depressed or might even be imitating a friend. Therefore it is also important for you to address the cause, before you impose external means to get rid of this habit.
Here is a list of the few ways in which you can help your child get rid of this habit.
If your child is capable of understanding the situation or is old enough for conversation, you might talk to him or her about the bad effects of nail biting. It is certainly not enough to say that it is a bad habit, and therefore you want him to stop. If he understands the ill effects and the pain this habit might cause him later, he might try to stop. And in this case, it is important that you make it a point to acknowledge his effort and praise him if he manages to discontinue biting his nails.
If your child has developed this habit, you cannot possibly stop him by punishing him. In certain cases punishment has produced the opposite effect. It has made the child more adamant, and immune to reproaches. Punishing him for something which he cannot control will not make him get rid of the habit, and will only contribute in making him a difficult child.
It is important for you to trim his nails and keep them short so that it becomes difficult for him to bite his nails.
If your child is still a toddler, try to keep his hands engaged with toys or other things. This will divert his attention and he will probably no longer be interested in biting his nails.
Peer pressure can work wonders for school going children and reactions from the schoolmates can automatically put a stop to this habit.
If your child persists with this habit, and it becomes destructive, then taking professional medical help might be a good idea.
Getting your child to stop the habit of nail biting might be a difficult task, but these steps will help you achieve the result in a quick and effective manner.

Check It Out:
Take just 2 minutes to check out Personal Development Plus to see how you can improve your life today. You owe it to yourself to take control of your own Personal Development - You'll feel better for it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liz_Rispin

Parents should really be concerned if their children gets the habit of nail biting. Unhealthy habit such as nail biting should be stopped before it becomes a hard habit to break.

My Mother Wasn't There

My mother wasn't there when I had my first boyfriend.

My mother wasn't there when I graduated from college.

My mother wasn't there when I have my first job.

My mother wasn't there when I got married.

My mother wasn't there when I gave birth to my children.

My mother wasn't there because she doesn't want to but because she can't. She already joined our creator when I was just 17 years old.

It is now my 23rd year of celebrating mother's day without my mother...that is, physically ...but here in my heart she will always be with me.

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!!!

Let's tell our mom how much we love her while she is still with us...when we still can hug and kiss her .... not tomorrow but today...

Sibling Rivalry

Being a mother to two growing kids is the most challenging phase in my life. My eldest is now 8 years old and the youngest is 3 years old. When I was pregnant with my youngest, my daughter was very excited because she said that her wish came true…that is, to have a little brother or sister. I was happy with her reaction and I’m thinking that my children will be going along well and she will be a big sister to her younger sibling.

Three years passed since I gave birth to my youngest and the reality is now starting to unfold. Every time my children are together (by the way, my youngest is a boy), they get along at first but later on you can hear discussions between them then shouting, crying then worst they hurt each other physically. It seems that they made it their hobby to quarrel. They would disagree on almost everything…. programs to watch on tv, who goes to the bathroom first, who will open the door…..and the list goes on.

I think this is what experts call sibling rivalry. Each kid wanted to win over another and get what they wanted. And I want to think that this is normal for kids their age and hope that their behavior towards each other will become better as they grow older.

For now, my husband and I sees to it that whenever they had a fight, they have to say sorry to each other and as much as possible, we don’t take sides, we make them feel that they are both loved.

ORACARE

I'd been eating a lot of onion and garlic these past few days, may it be raw, grilled, sauteed or boiled with vegetables. Aside from the health benefits I get from them, they also taste good..... eoooow...... is what my children say whenever they see these foods on the table. Anyway, they are still young, their choice of food can be modified little by little.

The only downside I get from eating a lot of these onion and garlic is the smell of my breath, it's really awful, especially a few hours after eating these stuff. Thanks to the commercially available Oracare mouthrinse. Oracare is effective in getting rid of the smell and it doesn't sting. Most of all, Oracare is proudly Philippine made.

Pan Fried Pork Tapa with Onion

Today we had a simple yet very delicious breakfast. As usual, my husband does the cooking (I admit he cooks a lot better than me).....his menu.... Pan Fried Pork Tapa with Onion.

The preparation was very simple. Last night he marinated the pork (tapa cut) with calamansi, soy sauce, garlic, ground black pepper, balsamic vinegar, oyster sauce, olive oil and dried rosemary and let it stand overnight. There's no specific measurement of the ingredients, it's all about "gut feel".

This morning he pan fried the marinated meat and he used small amount of butter instead of oil. Wohoh, it smelled really good and I can't wait to take a bite. When the meat is done, he garnished it with sauteed onion rings.

True to its smell the pan fried pork tapa is really delicious, very tender and no need of a sauce since the marinade was really absorbed by the meat. The sauteed onion rings is a bonus for this recipe, it tastes really good.

Oh, and about the kids, they were still sleeping when we had our breakfast but we left them with a good portion of pan fried pork tapa....... the onion, me and my husband consumed it all, they won't eat it anyway.

Voter Registration List

Election day is fast approaching and I'd like to make sure that my name is listed in the voter registration list of Comelec. I searched the web for a voter registration list and I found this link:

http://www.comelec.gov.ph/precinctfinder/precinctfinder.aspx

My brother informed me that when he checked his name using the above link, he found out that his registration status is deactivated. This discrepancy may become an issue and he might not be able to vote so he immediately went to the local Comelec's office and reported the problem. His record was updated.

I checked my record and thanks God it's correct and active.

I hope and pray that this coming election will be clean and peaceful.

!!!!!!!!!!GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!!!!!!!

An online diary......what?

Diary...... as defined in the dictionary, is a daily record of events, especially personal experiences. So naturally it is an everyday account of what's happening in some0nes life...... and I think most of the time, they are kept secret. You won't hear about it until the person dies or the diary was misplaced or falls to the wrong hands...that is to your detractors or just some "nothing to do but wants some fun" people. Ouuuch! that's the end of your secret, you are now the star of the neighborhood.

In today's technology (hi-tech that is) online diaries or blogs on someone's life is just a common thing. Hello??? Everything are posted, from what they are eating, what they are wearing, where they are going, how many cellphones they have and on and on and on....the list just goes on. At first, I was not comfortable with this idea. It's online... imagine, anyone may stumble on your blog.

But as I continue surfing and read blogs, I realized that online diary or blogging about oneself is not that bad. I got a lot of tips from what I read and most of all I am inspired from the experiences of others. You see, they are all first hand experiences of mostly ordinary persons and yet a lot of inspiration can be taken from them, it means, you don't have to be that popular to inspire people, just be yourself and live life to the fullest.

So now, I took the courage to write my first ever blog and I know this is not the first and last, there will still be many more to come.