Birthday celebration in school

It was her first day to go to school for 2013. She was absent for a week due to viral infection. She was wearing a jacket to shield herself from room aircon and rainy weather.

Her classmates sang a "happy birthday" song, she thanked them and she blew the candle on the cake. It was just a simple and small cake with the words "happy 5th birthday abby" written on it. We didnt serve it to her classmates because I want to avoid uniform stains.

The kids had Jollibee burgers, spaghetti and french fries. I got them each a piece of brownie from Goldilocks and tetra juice from Lola Vera.

She went home with a few gifts that she opened as soon as she got in the car. I didnt even know who have what. She was so excited, and obviously happy. :)

Gabbie's 5th Birthday

For the first time, Gabbie's birthday fell on a weekend. We were supposed to celebrate in school a couple of days before but she was still sick and she was not allowed to go to to school so she wouldnt spread the virus.

Anyways, since its already her fifth, we thought of not throwing a big party for her anymore. We went to Antipolo Church in the morning to hear a mass then dropped by our Ninang Bi's grave to remember her on her 3rd death anniversary. Since the kids were still sick and it was drizzling and really windy, we decided against staying longer and even lighting up some candles.

We then went to Stacy's to have lunch. The kids played a little and Gabbie finished her whole serving of mac and cheese (thank heavens!) while me and Daddy had cream dory and texas barbeque ribs.

After hanging out a little at Stacy's, we went to Eastwood mall to do a little shopping for the birthday girl. She also requested for a horseride (carousel) and since its her birthday, she got her wish :)

I bought her a sunday dress from Bayo. And then she "played" inside the toystore. Then she met Venus Raj. She was so proud to have met in person a real beauty queen.

The dreaded virus

A few days before Christmas, we rushed Rafa to the pedia for fever, cough and colds. She was given medicines but was not advised to be confined because she was not dehydrated naman. We brought her to hilot and "patawas" also, just in case. After a few days, her fever was gone. But her body temperature went as down as 35-ish. I was worried. The next day I texted the pedia because I saw some rashes in her face, back and tummy area. Pedia said no need to bring her again because it's just tigdas hangin or roseola virus. After 3 days, the rashes were gone just like that.

Then just las week, two days before Gabbie's school resumes, it was her who got sick naman, with fever peaking at 39.9 at one point. Went again to pedia and she was given medicines for cough. I talked to her teacher and excused her from school.

During those days that she was sick, Gabbie would just watch tv, play for a few minutes with her toys, read a little then play games in the cellphone.

After 5 days (Wednesday), she still had fever so we brought her back to pedia. At that time Rafa was also showing signs of flu and became so clingy. We started giving her paracetamol and she was given medicine for her cough.

Today, Gabbie no longer has fever but still has cough and colds. The virus was passed on to Rafa whose temperature goes normal in the afternoon but hovers at 38 to 39 at night time.

So for how many days (or weeks!) now, I could only sleep for about 4 hours at night and would try really hard to get at least 30-minute naps in the afternoon when the kids are also sleeping.

This virus had kept us busy and worrying for almost a month now. I hope when it finishes its course (on Rafa), he will leave us for good and never ever come back.

And because of this, I'll make sure our immune system will never allow any viruses to mess with our sleep, appetite, activities and school anymore.

Sisterly love

After a day of dancing, playing and fighting, these sisters know exactly how to comfort each other, even in sleep.

Tagaytay Getaway

Swimming and sight-seeing in Balai Isabel, Batangas.

Then overnight, kite flying and horseback riding in Tagaytay...

Let's do this again, daddy :)

Rafa's 1st Birthday Video

Sharing Rafa's 1st Birthday video done by Shuttercount Photography. 

So far this video is the only thing that can pacify the birthday girl when she's bored or having tantrums.

N@W Christmas Party

This was the first Christmas party that we went to for 2012. We gave out toys, books and old clothes to charity (c/o nawies) but we went home with so much more. The kids got a lot of prizes, giveaways and gifts. There were also storytelling, magic shows and free hairstyling for the kids, aside from the food carts, skitbook and photo booths. I feel grateful to naw for this experience. It is thru naw that I become equipped with everything there is to know about parenting (breastfeeding, cloth diapering, etc included).

Thank you N@W!

Santa Claus came to town :)

When we were kids, our parents would make us sleep early evening of December 24 while they prepare some food for the noche buena. But before we sleep they ask us to hang our socks (literally socks that we used to go to school) near the window so that Santa Claus can easily reach them when he puts our gifts. When it was time to go to the mass (11PM) they would wake us up then we have our noche buena together as exactly 12 midnight.

Then come the exciting part of Christmas (well for us then)- the opening of gifts from Santa. Those gifts were never big time. No super size dolls or super high tech robots or cars for my brothers. Candies, small cheap toys or sometimes just chips. But they were all from Santa Claus.

Later we found out the Santa Claus was not real. That those were our parents who put those things inside our socks while we were sleeping. As far as I know, we didn't feel bad or felt being fooled. Masaya eh. That one point in our lives we "experienced" Santa.

Looking back, I still feel that happy feeling that we have when we were opening the socks.

Now with my kids, I want them to experience the same- to experience receiving gifts from Santa Claus. So when the homeowners officers asked us if we want Santa Claus to personally hand our gifts to the kids, we agreed.

The smile on the face of Gabbie was priceless. And she kept telling us that "Santa Claus came here to give my gift!"

Until when we are going to do this, I can't tell. But I'm sure my kids will be smart enough to know what's real or not when the right time comes. And we will be here to give them guidance.

But for now if they want to believe there is Santa, we'll let them believe.