EK: Rainy Wednesday

I was supposed to blog yesterday but my mind was busy worrying kasi Baby Rain's cough got worse the night before. And I have to come to work na kahapon kasi andami ko ng absences. Kaya hindi rin mapakali ang lola mo dito sa office kahapon. Ganun talaga mga mare, no? Pag anak natin ang may sakit, hindi talaga tayo makampante. Last Saturday, I even texted some friends including a fellow blogger to ask where I could get Vapor Soove. 

Vapor Soove is an in-house proprietary blend of essentials oils -- Eucalyptus, Lavender, Methol and Thyme -- with a proven soothing vapour and calming effect. This non-greasy ointment base provides gentle and effective relief for stuffy noses and coughs. Unlike other popular chest rubs, Vapor Soove is a Camphor-free formula, which makes it suitable for babies and children above 6 months.

I couldn't get myself google it because my darling's been clinging on me all day. All I knew is that I read it somewhere but my over-occupied mind couldn't process anything. I've been sleepless for a couple of nights attending to my baby's needs, kaya ganun. Pagpasok ko pa lang kahapon dito sa office, I started researching where I could buy Vapor Soove. And it all led me back to Ms. Tin of Manila Fashion Observer. But I can't afford to order it online for it will take 2-3 days pa for shipping period. I needed it right away. I decided to email Ms. Tin for the nearest shop from my office kasi as far as I can remember, parang wala na yung Momtrepreneur Shop sa Shang. I work in Pasig area kasi, so yung Shang ang lalabas na nearest store. Honestly, I was half-hearted to email Ms. Tin kasi (1) nahihiya ako (2) feeling ko masyado syang busy para istorbohin ko, at (3) nahihiya talaga ako. Pero hindi ako nagkamali na tanungin sya kasi ang bait nya mga mare. She replied agad agad sa email ko. (Thanks, Ms. Tin! You have no idea how much you've helped me.) And her reply really calmed me. Although I have no idea if the product really works, but as a mom, I am willing to try anything basta makabubuti sa mga anak ko. And besides, all reviews I've read are all positive. Gow ako agad sa Robinson's Galleria to buy Vapor Soove. It is available mga mare sa Sesou Nature Source. I bought a jar and included one stick of Milea Baby Sniffles Balm on my purchase. OA lang talaga ako, nabasa ko rin kasi that Milea Baby Sniffles Balm also helps calm and ease baby's cough and cold symptoms and it is organic din just like Vapor Soove. 

excuse the stuffy nose of my baby

Baby Rain loves the Vapor Soove. No joke mga mare, effective talaga sya. After several sleepless nights, we finally had our well-deserved undisturbed sleep last night. I never heard her cough-like-there's-no-tomorrow. I'm so happy with this product. =) The next time that I'll be in Robinson's Galleria, I'll buy more of this. I also tried it myself para ma-gauge ko how much I should put on her, nakaka-calm talaga yung scent nya and unlike the other vapor rubs, hindi sya masakit sa balat.

EK: Mother's Instinct

For most of you, this is one of the most important days as a citizen of this country. It is our chance to make a difference. But sadly, I wasn't able to register myself for this election. Don't judge me mga mare. I promised myself to register as soon as possible dito na sa aming lugar. And I heard, Imus City is a hot spot during election day. Nakaka excite to think that someday, my vote would really matters a lot. I won't elaborate the issues since I am not in a position to say anything. So...enough of political issues. =)

I had an exhausting Saturday. Once again, I've proven mother's instinct to be right. I woke up in the middle of the night to see Baby Rain uneasy and in tears, normally, I will give her the pacifier or if it's her feeding time, I'll give her milk. But I felt something's wrong so I hurriedly scooped her up. Natakot ako mga mare, she was shivering and breathing fast. I turned off the a/c agad agad. I wrapped her in thick blanket and felt her temperature. Oo, nauna ko syang balutin ng kumot bago ko naisipan tingnan kung nilalagnat sya. I guess I was focused in giving her enough warmth first. Actually, hindi ako nakapag decide kung may fever ba sya o wala, hindi ko na rin naisip na lagyan sya ng thermometer to know better. Ginising ko na lang agad si R habang nagpapanic ako. And he hates that. He hates to see me in panic mode. Siguro dahil gusto nyang kalma lang para makapag isip sya ng maayos. We were actually arguing while dinadamitan ng maayos si Baby at habang nagbibihis kami at habang ginigising yung iba naming kasama sa bahay. Riot lang. Hehe. We went to the nearest hospital. At 3am, we were the only patient sa ER ng Divine Grace Medical Center. Her temperature was 38.5 C, and thank God, it was not pneumonia. And then I calmed down. Grabe lang talaga ang ubo nya that she needed to use the nebulizer thrice. We went home after 2 hours with an antibiotic, cough medicines and paracetamol drops. The whole Saturday wasn't easy for me. She had an off-on fever and very uneasy the whole day. Pero ok lang sakin yun. Cough is easier to manage than something worse, like, pneumonia. Yun talaga yung prayer ko the whole travel from our house to the hospital. "Lord, please be it not pneumonia." And He answered my prayer. =)

Came Sunday, and it's mother's day. I celebrated it a little emotional. After what happened last Saturday, mas feel kong i-celebrate yung mother's day. Hindi dahil napagod ako at gusto kong samantalahin yung araw ko para magpahinga. But because I feel lucky to be a mother...to be able to care for another being and love her unconditionally. Someone who depends on me. Someone who will love me back the way I love them. Or not. Basta, ramdam na ramdam ko talaga kahapon yung pagiging ina ko. Walang basagan ng trip. =)

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm bad, I know! But it's better late than never. So....

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms I know! And even to those moms I haven't met yet!

May is for mothers #2

Image Source

Rewind: Busy Tuesday

This is a backlog. I know, right? I was busy yesterday kaya hindi ako nakapag kwento mga mare. =) Anyway, I was on leave last Tuesday. I need to submit the reports for my sideline soon. But the Engineer who I hired to do the work for me failed to meet the required churva of my client. Kaya to save my ass, I decided to do the job myself. So the next time I'll get more projects, I know how to do it. It will be much easier for me to guide someone else.

Easy peasy lang pala mga mare. The only "BUT" is that, hanglayo! North Luzon sya. As far as Baguio yung nakuha kong project. I went to Pampanga last Tuesday to do a quarter of the project. Si hubby ang aking piloto that day. I wanted to rent a car pero he insisted para hindi naman daw ako malugi sa raket ko. =) Very supportive naman pala. Kaso on our way, he kept on murmuring na malayo daw pala. Sabi ko na nga ba, hindi rin makakatiis at magrereklamo rin ang mokong. Hehe. We arrived in Pampanga around noon time, nag drop by pa kasi kami sa isa nya ring project sa Bulacan. So it was like hitting two birds in one stone for him.

Me: Bhe, hanap ka muna ng makakainan.
R: Ayos! Hindi mo pa nauumpisahan trabaho mo, kain agad.
Me: Eh, gutom na ako.
R: Sige, hanap tayo sisig! =)

Yown naman! =)

But we were in a small barangay lang. It was difficult to find a local restaurant or a carenderia. Ending, trabaho pa rin ang nauna.

We finished around 5 pm and decided to drop by a gasoline station in NLEX on our way home for a much needed merienda.

A well-deserved Magnum!

When going to provinces talaga, except for the vacation, I look forward most in dropping by any gasoline station along the expressway. I noticed kasi, ang bongga lang kasi nagiging one-stop shop sila. Like dun sa hinintuan namin, they have a cafe that serves starbucks-like coffee and cakes. They also offer dumplings and different munchies. Tapos they also have a mini-grocery that includes toiletries talaga. =) They also offer different pasalubong and delicacies. 

Parang wala lang katapusan yung kalsada

See the blue line? Ang galing noh?

After the looonngggg drive, we finally reached home around 9 pm. It was really tiring. No, it was an understatement. R drifted off to sleep the moment his back touched our bed. Wawa man my driver. 

Me: 'Til the next time, Bhe!

R: Anong next time? Mag rent ka na lang ng sasakyan!

Me: Ay, gising pa pala. Hihi. =)

EIGHT LIES OF A MOTHER

EIGHT LIES OF A MOTHER 

Anonymous

The story began when I was a child. I was born as a son of a poor family.

Even for eating, we often got lack of food. Whenever the time for eating, mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was removing her rice into my bowl, she would say "Eat this rice, son. I'm not hungry".
That was Mother's First Lie.

When I was getting to grow up, the persevering mother gave her spare time for fishing in a river near our house, she hoped that from the fishes she got, she could gave me a little bit nutritious food for my growth. After fishing, she would cook the fishes to be a fresh fish soup, which raised my appetite. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat the rest meat of fish, which was still on the bone of the fish I ate. My heart was touched when I saw it. I then used my chopstick and gave the other fish to her. But she immediately refused it and said "Eat this fish, son. I don't really like fish."
That was Mother's Second Lie.

Then, when I was in Junior High School, to fund my study, mother went to an economic enterprise to bring some used-matches boxes that would be stuck in. It gave her some money for covering our needs. As the winter came, I woke up from my sleep and looked at my mother who was still awoke, supported by a little candlelight and within her perseverance she continued the work of sticking some used-matches box.
I said, "Mother, go to sleep, it's late, tomorrow morning you still have to go for work. "Mother smiled and said "Go to sleep, dear. I'm not tired."
That was Mother's Third Lie.

At the time of final term, mother asked for a leave from her work in order to accompany me. While the daytime was coming and the heat of the sun was starting to shine, the strong and persevering mother waited for me under the heat of the sun's shine for several hours. As the bell rang, which indicated that the final exam had finished, mother immediately welcomed me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared before in a cold bottle. The very thick tea was not as thick as my mother's love, which was much thicker. Seeing my mother covering with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!".
That was Mother's Fourth Lie.

After the death of my father because of illness, my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent. By held on her former job, she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. No days without sufferance. Seeing our family's condition that was getting worse, there was a nice uncle who lived near my house came to help us, either in a big problem and a small problem. Our other neighbors who lived next to us saw that our family's life was so unfortunate, they often advised my mother to marry again. But mother, who was stubborn, didn't care to their advice, she said "I don't need love."
That was Mother's Fifth Lie.

After I had finished my study and then got a job, it was the time for my old mother to retire. But she didn't want to; she was sincere to go to the marketplace every morning, just to sell some vegetable for fulfilling her needs. I, who worked in the other city, often sent her some money to help her in fulfilling her needs, but she was stubborn for not accepting the money. She even sent the money back to me. She said "I have enough money."
That was Mother's Sixth Lie.

After graduated from Bachelor Degree, I then continued my study to Master Degree. I took the degree, which was funded by a company through a scholarship program, from a famous University in America . I finally worked in the company. Within a quite high salary, I intended to take my mother to enjoy her life in America. But my lovely mother didn't want to bother her son, she said to me "I'm not used to."
That was Mother's Seventh Lie.

After entering her old age, mother got a flank cancer and had to be hospitalized. I, who lived in miles away and across the ocean, directly went home to visit my dearest mother. She lied down in weakness on her bed after having an operation.
Mother, who looked so old, was staring at me in deep yearn. She tried to spread her smile on her face, even it looked so stiff because of the disease she held out. It was clear enough to see how the disease broke my mother's body, thus she looked so weak and thin.
I stared at my mother within tears flowing on my face. My heart was hurt, so hurt, seeing my mother on that condition. But mother, with her strength, said "Don't cry, my dear. I'm not in pain."
That was Mother's Eight Lie.

After saying her eighth lie, She closed her eyes forever!

*credits to the unknown author

A Mother's Story: My Mama

I am my mother's only child (I have a half sister and two half brothers) but I grew up with my cousins kaya hindi ko rin naramdaman na mag isa ako. It is still clear to me up to now my childhood memories. Every summer, we travel 8 irksome-hours (or more) by public bus so we can spend it to wherever my father was assigned. He was a military man (then transferred to Navy and retired as Coastguard). Well, that's basically the reason why I always tell people that I was raised by my mom, alone. Because she literally did so. And also because my parents were never married. But I never had any reason not to be a better person. I was never deprived with anything that a normal family has. My cousins and I treated each other like real siblings. They became my family. My uncles and aunts are all parents to me. My mom succeed in that aspect. She never made me feel alone, or worse, illegitimate. Because I always have a family I can call my own.

Siguro kaya ako attached sa mga beauty salon kasi lumaki ako sa salon. We share our living room with my mom's clients. They have to see me wrapped in my bath towel before I can go to our bedroom in the second floor because everything was wide open to the public. Haha. Ngayon ko lang narealize na nakakahiya pala. Anyway, sa probinsya naman walang kaso ang mga ganyan. Kaya rin siguro hindi ako mahirap pakisamahan kasi iba't ibang tao na ang nakadaupang palad ko simula bata ako hanggang ngayon.

I remember when I was like 6 yrs old, I threatened everybody that I will run away pag hindi umuwi si mama agad agad. I woke up from my afternoon nap with mom nowhere in sight. I was told that she went to the moviehouse which was right in front our house. Aba si mama, nanood pa ng sine! =) Pelikula pa 'ata ni FPJ ang palabas nun. O kaya ni Daboy o kaya ni Agimat. Nataranta naman silang lahat at sinundo agad si mama sa sinehan. Matigas pala talaga ulo ko. Tsk tsk tsk! Sa akin nga 'ata nagmana si Angela. Ngayon ko lang naisip, siguro kelangan na kelangan ni mama manood ng sine ng panahon na yun para makapagpahinga saglit. Tapos hindi ko man lang sya napagbigyan. Naaalala ko rin, pinapagalitan ako ni mama sa tuwing naglalakad ako pauwi ng bahay from school, naiintindihan ko na ngayon kung bakit. Malamang hindi rin ako mapapakali pag nalaman kong si Angela naglalakad sa kalsada. Hindi na kaya safe ang mga kalsada natin ngayon. Ang dami daming mga iresponsableng driver dyan. (Oooppss, bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan wag magalit.)

She is a single parent, no less. Her job of raising me while managing her salon was beyond tiring and strenuous. But I never heard her complain. I never felt ignored. She never failed to make me feel loved. She sent me to the best school even if she had to work double-time so she can afford the tuition fee. Ang laki pala ng hirap sakin ni mama. Hindi sapat ang thank you lang.

Mag iiba talaga ang pagtingin natin sa mga bagay bagay once we became a parent. Today I fully understand why mom was so protective to me back then. I can now completely comprehend why she gets mad at me whenever I lied and whenever I chose to disobey her. Kasi she didn't want me to get hurt. She DOESN'T want me to get hurt. She protects me until now. Minsan pa nga nagagalit pa ako kasi pakiramdam ko bine-baby nya ako. Yun pala kasi mahal nya ako.

Before I got married, I made sure that my husband understands the bond I have with my mom. He knows that he can't take me away from her. I promised myself that I won't leave her. Although she prefers to stay in Bicol and we are in Cavite. She is aware that if she chooses to stay with us, we are more than happy to welcome her.

She is always the best mother for me. Hinding hindi ko mapapantayan ang lahat ng sakripisyo nya bilang ina. Hindi man sapat ang thank you lang, paulit ulit ko pa rin sasabihin kay mama na sobrang nagpapasalamat ako at sya ang mama ko.